ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM

ELECTRICAL CURRENT
Electric current is the flow1 of electric charge2. It
transmits energy called electricity.

______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________

ELECTRICITY

Electricity is the flow of electrical power or charge. It is a

secondary energy source which means that we get it from the
conversion of other sources of energy, like coal, natural gas, oil,
nuclear power and other natural sources, which are called
primary sources. The energy sources we use to make
electricity can be renewable or non-renewable, but
electricity itself is neither renewable or non-renewable.

Electricity is a basic part of nature and it is one of our most widely 3 used forms of
energy.

NOTES:
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________

1
Flow: the continuous movement of something in one direction
2
Electric charge is a fundamental conserved property of some subatomic particles, which
determines their electromagnetic interaction.
3
Widely:

1
 ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM

ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION
Electricity is produced at power stations or power plants.

Water, steam4 or wind moves a turbine connected

to a generator. When the turbine rotates, the
generator converts mechanical energy into
electricity, using a magnetic field and a conductor.

Power stations use different energy sources to move

the turbine. Some use non-renewable energies, such
as coal, while others use renewable energies, such as
wind.

ELECTRICITY TRANSMISSION

The electricity generated at a power station is transmitted through

conducting wires to substations near populated areas. It is
transmitted through tall towers and special electrical power lines
called high-tension power transmission lines.

NOTES:
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________

4
Steam: the hot wet substance like a cloud that is produced when water is heated.

2
 ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM

ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTION AND CONSUMPTION

Power lines distribute electricity to homes, offices and industries. It is used by different
appliances to produce:

Heat: radiators
Movement: washing machines
Light: computers
Sound: doorbells

_____________ _____________ _____________ _____________

HEAT LIGHT MOVEMENT SOUND

NOTES:
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________

3
 ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM

ELECTRIC CIRCUITS

An electric circuit consists of different components connected to each other to allow

the flow of an electrical current.

The four basic components of an electric circuit are:

1. A generator. Which is the source of electricity, such as an electrical plant or a

battery.
2. An electrical component, such as a light bulb or a motor.
3. Conducting wires.
A switch to control the flow of electrical current. A switch in the position closes the
circuit and allows the flow of electrical current. A switch in the off position opens the
cir

There are 2 kinds of circuits and conductors:

1. Electrical conductors

• Some materials let electricity pass through

them easily. These materials are known as
electrical conductors.
• Many metals such as aluminium, copper, iron
and steel, are good electrical pass through are
always made of metal.

2. Electrical insulators

• Some materials do not allow electricity to pass

through them. These materials are known as
electrical insulators.
• Plastic, wood, glass and rubber are good electrical
insulators. That is why these materials are often
used to cover materials that carry electricity.

4
ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM

5
ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM

6
 ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM

TYPES OF CIRCUITS
Series Connections Parallel Connections

VOCABULARY
Match:
a. The flow of electrical charges . . insulators
a. Electrical current flows easily through these materials . . electrical current
b. Electrical current does not flow easily through these materials . . a switch
c. The source of electricity in an electric circuit . . conductors
e. It controls the flow of electrical current in an electric circuit . . a generator

NOTES:

_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________

7
ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM

8
ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM

9
 ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM

Activities:

1. Complete the sentences.

Repel neutral negatively attract positively

a) If an object has more negative charges than positive charges, it is ___________

charged.
b) If an object has more positive charges than negative charges, it is ____________
charged.
c) If an object has the same number of positive and negative charges, it is
__________.
d) Objects with the same charges ________________________ each other.
e) Objects with opposite charges ________________________ each other.

2. Write true or false

True False
1 A magnet is an object that can attract all types of objects
2 Magnets have two poles
3 Opposite magnetic poles repel each other
4 To make an electromagnet, you only need a conducting wire
5 Magnetic strips store information on credit cards

3. What does electricity produce in each case (heat, movement, light or sound)?

Heat Movement Light Sound

Lights on
Electric razor
Radio
Hair dryer
Radiator

10
 ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM

INVESTIGATION
1. What happens if you remove one of the light bulbs from the series circuit?

2. What happens if you remove one of the light bulbs grom the parallel circuit?

3. How is a string of lights for a Christmas tree connected, in series or in parallel?

Why?

4. Match and complete the table

Electricity is a form of energy that lights our towns, heats our homes and moves
machines. Primary energy sources like coal, natural gas, oil, nuclear power, wind, water
and the sun produce electricity. Electricity is a secondary energy source. We use
electricity every day.

11
 ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM

5.

6.

12
ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM

13
ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM

14
ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM

15
 ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM

MAGNETS

A magnet is an object which can attract objects made of iron, such as steel. This
attraction is called magnetism.

Magnets can be naturals, such as a mineral magnetite, or artificial,

such as magnets manufactured from metal.

MAGNETITE

Magnets have two poles: north and south.

When the opposite poles of two magnets are placed

together, the magnets attract each other. If the same
poles are placed together, the magnets repel each other.

MAGNETIC FIELDS

Magnets create magnetic fields. They are the space around a

magnet, where materials, such as iron filings, are affected by
magnetic forces.

ELECTROMAGNETS

An electromagnet is a conducting wire wrapped around a piece of

iron, called a coil, which acts as a magnet when electrical current
flows thought it.

16
 ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM

THE USES OF MAGNETS

Magnets are used in electric motors and generators for telephones, lights, televisions,
computers and more.

• Magnetic recording media are used in audio cassettes, floppy disks and hard
disks to store information in a very small space.
• Magnetic strips store information on credit cards.
• Electromagnets are used in televisions, computer monitors, loudspeakers and
microphones.

magnetic recording media magnetic strips electromagnets

NOTES:
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________

17
ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM

18
 ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM

Activities:

1. Match and write.

This force slows or stops moving objects . .gravity
This force affects magnets and some metallic objects . . magnetic force
This force makes objects fall to the ground . . friction
This force is found in objects with electrical charges . . electric force

19