Vocabulary:
- Circuit – a closed conducting circle or loop through which current can flow
- Closed (complete, working) circuit – a closed conducting circle or loop through which current can flow
- Conductor – a substance or object that allows energy to flow through it easily
- Electrical energy – a form of energy produced when electric charges flow through a conductor
- Energy – the ability to cause change or do work
- Insulator – a substance or object that does not allow energy to flow through it easily
- Light energy – a form of energy which our eyes can detect
- Mechanical energy – energy of motion
- Open (incomplete, broken) circuit – if the pathway is broken (burned out bulb, broken buzzer, wire cut, etc.), then electricity cannot continue to flow
- Sound energy – energy produced by vibrations
- Thermal energy – energy related to the temperature of an object or a substance
- Vibration – a series of small, fast movements back and forth or from side to side
FORMS OF ENERGY
- Energy – the ability to cause change or do work
- Mechanical – energy of motion
- Possible example of mechanical energy:
- Winding up a toy
- Possible example of mechanical energy:
- Sound – energy produced by vibrations
- Possible examples of sound energy:
- Beating a drum
- Strumming a guitar
- Possible examples of sound energy:
- Electrical – a form of energy produced when electric charges flow through a conductor
- Electric current travels in a closed path creating an electrical circuit
- Possible examples of electrical energy:
- Electrical energy to provide light for the classroom
- Static electricity between objects
- Light – a form of energy which our eyes can detect
- Light travels in a straight path
- Possible examples of light energy:
- Sunlight
- Solar flash light
- Light from a candle
- Thermal – energy related to the temperature of an object or a substance
- Thermal energy can be measured as temperature
- Thermal energy moves from the warmer substance to the cooler substance
- The movement of thermal energy from one substance to another can result in a change of state (solid, liquid, gas)
- Possible examples of thermal energy that can be measured by temperature:
- Thermal energy contained in very warm or very cool water
- Thermal energy contained in a person or animal
CONDUCTORS AND INSULATORS OF THERMAL AND ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- Conductor – a substance or object that allows energy to flow through it easily
- Types of good conductors:
- Thermal energy
- Metal
- Electrical energy
- Copper
- Aluminum
- Graphite
- Salt solutions
- Sound
- Metal
- Water
- Thermal energy
- Insulator – a substance or object that does not allow energy to flow through it easily
- Types of good insulators:
- Thermal energy
- Wood
- Plastic
- Styrofoam™
- Water
- Electrical energy
- Glass
- Paper
- Wood
- Plastic
- Rubber
- Thermal energy
ELECTRICITY TRAVELS IN A CLOSED PATH CREATING AN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT
- An electric circuit must include:
- An energy source (battery)
- A path through which the energy can flow (wire)
- Many electric circuits have an output device (light bulb, buzzer, etc.) and may have a control device such as a switch
- Electric current – a flow of electricity through a conductor
- Electric circuit – the path through which an electric current can flow
- Closed circuits (complete, working)
- Open circuits (incomplete, broken, nonworking)