Electricity

Question 1

What is static electricity?

Answer 1

Static electricity is the build-up of electric charge on the surface of an object due to gaining or losing electrons.

Question 2

Can static electricity move?

Answer 2

Static electricity is a build-up of charge in one place that does not flow as a current.

Question 3

Objects that lose electrons become ____ charged.

Answer 3

Positively (+)

Question 4

Objects that gain electrons become ____ charged.

Answer 4

Negatively (-)

Question 5

How is static electricity generated?

Answer 5

Electrons are passed from one object to another by rubbing them together (i.e. friction)

Question 6

Charges that are the same _________ each other.

Answer 6

Repel

Question 7

Charges that are different _________ each other.

Answer 7

Attract

Question 8

What will happen when two negative charges are brought together?

Answer 8

They will repel.

Question 9

What will happen when a negative and positive charge are brought together?

Answer 9

They will attract.

Question 10

Describe current electricity.

Answer 10

When electrons move they carry electrical energy from one place to another.
This is called current electricity or an electric current.

Question 11

What is a circuit?

Answer 11

A circuit is a closed path or loop around which an electric current flows.

Question 12

Describe simply what electricity is.

Answer 12

Electricity is a flow of electrons from one place to another.

Question 13

What ‘pushes’ the electrons around a circuit?

Answer 13

A battery or power outlet creates the force that makes a current of electrons flow.

Question 14

The force created by a battery is called __________.

Answer 14

Voltage (or potential difference)

Question 15

What would happen if there is a break in the circuit?

Answer 15

No current would flow because the circuit is open.

Question 16

What is a conductor?

Answer 16

Conductors are materials that allow electricity to flow freely e.g. copper wire.

Question 17

What is an insulator?

Answer 17

Insulators are materials that do not allow electricity to pass through them freely e.g. rubber, plastic.

Question 18

Describe the pathway of electrons in a series circuit.

Answer 18

In a series circuit there is only one pathway around which the electrons can travel.

Question 19

Describe the pathway of electrons in a parallel circuit.

Answer 19

In a parallel circuit there are different pathways the electrons can travel.

Question 20

What is the unit for current?

Answer 20

Ampere (A)

Question 21

What is the unit for voltage/potential difference?

Answer 21

Volts (V)

Question 22

In a circuit what scientific name do we give for ‘battery’?

Answer 22

We call a battery a ‘cell’.

Question 23

What is meant by the term ‘resistance’?

Answer 23

Resistance is how much a component opposes the flow of electric current.

Question 24

Resistance is measured in ________.

Answer 24

Ohms

Question 25

Which piece of equipment measures current?

Answer 25

Ammeter

Question 26

In an atom which particles can move from one object to an other?

Answer 26

Electrons - because they are very small and light.

Question 27

A neutral object has equal numbers of positive and negative _________.

Answer 27

Charges - So the overall charge is zero.

Question 28

In a series circuit, what happens if one of the bulbs blows?

Answer 28

All the other components will not work because the circuit is broken.

Question 29

If you want to measure current in a circuit, how do you wire the ammeter?

Answer 29

You have to wire it in series.

Question 30

If you want to measure voltage in a circuit, how do you wire the voltmeter?

Answer 30

You have to wire it in parallel.

Question 31

On your learning tools app draw the symbol for a bulb.

Answer 31

Check your exercise book for the bulb symbol to see if you are correct.

Question 32

On your learning tools app draw the symbol for an open switch.

Answer 32

Check your exercise book for the open switch symbol to see if you are correct.

Question 33

On your learning tools app draw the symbol for an voltmeter.

Answer 33

Check your exercise book for the voltmeter symbol to see if you are correct.

Question 34

What does an ammeter measure?

Answer 34

Current

Question 35

When a wire increases in length how does this affect the resistance?

Answer 35

The resistance also increases

Question 36

How does the thickness of a wire affect resistance?

Answer 36

The thinner the wire the higher the resistance

Question 37

What is potential difference?

Answer 37

It is the ‘push’ from the battery that pushes the electrons around the electrical circuit. It is also known as 'voltage'.

Question 38

Define the term 'current'

Answer 38

An electric current is a flow of electrons/charge around a circuit. The faster the charge flow, the higher the current.

Question 39

What unit is current measured in?

Answer 39

Current is measured in Amps (A)

Question 40

What is the symbol for resistance and what unit is it measured in?

Answer 40

The symbol for resistance is R It is measured in Ohms (Ω)

Question 41

Describe the difference between a cell and a battery.

Answer 41

- A cell is a single source of electrical energy. - A battery is two or more cells connected together.

Question 42

In a series circuit how does current compare at different points?

Answer 42

The current is the same everywhere.

Question 43

In a series circuit what happens to voltage across components?

Answer 43

The voltage is shared between components.

Question 44

What happens to brightness when more bulbs are added in series?

Answer 44

The bulbs become dimmer.

Question 45

In a parallel circuit what happens to current at a junction?

Answer 45

The current splits between the branches.

Question 46

In a parallel circuit how does voltage compare across branches?

Answer 46

The voltage is the same across each branch.

Question 47

Why are household circuits wired in parallel?

Answer 47

So that different appliances work independently.

Question 48

If you want to measure current, where must an ammeter be placed in a circuit?

Answer 48

In series with the component being measured.

Question 49

If you are measuring voltage, where must a voltmeter be placed in a circuit?

Answer 49

In parallel across the component.

Question 50

What happens to current when resistance increases?

Answer 50

Current decreases - because it is more difficult for the electrons to flow

Question 51

What happens to resistance if a wire gets longer?

Answer 51

Resistance increases.

Question 52

What happens to resistance if a wire gets thicker?

Answer 52

Resistance decreases.

Question 53

Give three factors that affect resistance in a wire.

Answer 53

Length, thickness, and material.

Question 54

Why are metals good electrical conductors?

Answer 54

They have free electrons that can move easily.

Question 55

Why is plastic used to cover electrical wires?

Answer 55

It is an insulator and prevents electric shocks.

Question 56

What particle moves during static electricity?

Answer 56

Electrons.

Question 57

What is a spark?

Answer 57

A sudden discharge of static electricity.

Question 58

Give an example of static electricity in everyday life.

Answer 58

Lightning or rubbing a balloon on hair.

Question 59

Does current get used up in a bulb?

Answer 59

No. The current is the same before and after the bulb.

Question 60

What is actually used by a bulb in a circuit?

Answer 60

Electrical energy.

Question 61

Does adding more bulbs in series increase current?

Answer 61

No. It decreases the current.