Electricity

Unit Concepts

• Recognize that energy is a property of many substances (electrical energy is the attraction or repulsion between charges)
• Know that electrical circuits provide a means of transferring electrical energy to produce heat, light, and chemical changes.
• Contrast how different kinds of materials respond to electrical forces (as insulators, semiconductors, conductors, superconductors)
• Know that materials that contain equal portions of positive and negative charges are electrically neutral, but a very small excess or deficit of negative charges in a material produces noticeable electric forces.
• Know that the strength of the electric force between two charged objects is proportional to the charges (opposite charges attract whereas like charges repel).
• Describe how volts, amperes, and ohms are related and the difference between series and parallel circuits.
• Relate that just as electric currents can produce e magnetic forces, magnets can cause electric currents
• Understand that magnetic forces are very closely related to electric forces and can be thought of as different aspects of a single electromagnetic force (moving electric charges produce magnetic forces and moving magnets produce electric force) The interplay of these forces is the basis for electronic motors, generators, radio, television and many other modern technologies.

• Physics4Kids:Electricity
  http://www.kapili.com/physics4kids/electric/index.html
• The Electric Club Activities Handbook
  http://www.schoolnet.ca/general/club-electrique/e/
  This site contains 37 different experiments that should be done under supervision of an instructor or parent.
• IPPEX Interactive: Electricity and Magnetism
  http://ippex.pppl.gov/ippex/module_4/
  This module will introduce you to many of the basic concepts involved with Electricity and Magnetism. We will introduce you to static charge, moving charge, voltage, resistance, and current. Magnetism and how it relates to electricity will also be presented. The "Shockwave" Plug-in is required to use this module.

---

last updated: 12/5/00
These pages are maintained by the UMS Science Department