Electrical CircuitsElectrical Circuits

Bobbi Martin, Las Vegas, NV

What is electricity?What is electricity?

It is a form of energy that It is a form of energy that is created from the is created from the movement of electrons of movement of electrons of atoms. When the atoms. When the electrons move from one electrons move from one atom to the next, energy atom to the next, energy is created. The word is created. The word electrelectricity comes from the icity comes from the same root word as same root word as electrelectron.on.

VoltageVoltage

The electron travels The electron travels around the atom at around the atom at a very high rate of a very high rate of speed. When the speed. When the electrons move electrons move from one atom to from one atom to the next, the energy the next, the energy created is called created is called voltage.voltage.

Moving ElectronsMoving Electrons

The moving electrons The moving electrons make a fast flowing make a fast flowing river of energy called a river of energy called a currentcurrent..

The current travels The current travels through a material like through a material like a wire made from a wire made from aluminum or copper aluminum or copper called a called a conductorconductor..

Types of CurrentsTypes of CurrentsDirect Current (DC) Alternating Current (AC)

Alternating CurrentAlternating CurrentThe power that comes from The power that comes from a power plant is called a power plant is called alternating currentalternating current (AC). (AC). The direction of the current The direction of the current reverses, or alternates, 60 reverses, or alternates, 60 times per second (in the times per second (in the U.S.) or 50 times per U.S.) or 50 times per second (in Europe, for second (in Europe, for example). The power that is example). The power that is available at a wall socket in available at a wall socket in the United States is the United States is 120-120-volt, 60-cycle AC powervolt, 60-cycle AC power..

Direct CurrentDirect CurrentBatteries, fuel cells and Batteries, fuel cells and solar cells all produce solar cells all produce something called something called direct direct currentcurrent (DC). (DC). The The positive and negative positive and negative terminals of a battery terminals of a battery are always positive and are always positive and negative. The electron negative. The electron current always flows in current always flows in the same direction the same direction between those two between those two terminals.terminals.

Fuel Cell

Solar Cell

Car Battery

AC DCAC DC

Electrical Power

Sources

Direction of electrons reverses

Electricity is generated by coal, water, fossil fuels, or nuclear reaction at a generating station

Electrons flow in one direction

Electricity is generated

by stored chemicals,

radiation, wind, or fuel

Can be portable

BatteriesBatteries

Batteries are Batteries are notnot little little packages of energy.packages of energy.

Batteries collect Batteries collect electrons in the electrons in the negative (-) terminal.negative (-) terminal.

Chemicals inside the Chemicals inside the battery rapidly push battery rapidly push the electrons out the the electrons out the positive (+) terminal positive (+) terminal creating electricity.creating electricity.

Components of a CircuitComponents of a Circuit

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Components of a CircuitComponents of a Circuit

Power Source

Conductor

Load

Types of CircuitsTypes of Circuits

Series CircuitSeries Circuit

A circuit that only A circuit that only has one path for has one path for current to flow current to flow through is called a through is called a series circuitseries circuit. . If the path is broken, no current flows through the circuit.

Parallel CircuitParallel Circuit

A type of circuit that has more than one A type of circuit that has more than one path for current is called apath for current is called a parallel parallel circuitcircuit. . If the path is broken, the current continues to flow through the circuit.

Open and Closed CircuitsOpen and Closed Circuits

What will happen if the switch is lifted?

Combination CircuitCombination Circuit

What will What will happen to the happen to the circuit if one of circuit if one of the motors the motors fails to fails to function?function?

What will What will happen if one happen if one of the bulbs of the bulbs fails to fails to function?function?

Work with your partner or group to Work with your partner or group to use a Venn diagram to compare and use a Venn diagram to compare and contrast seriescontrast series and parallel circuitsand parallel circuits

Series Circuit Parallel Circuit