Electricity and Circuits
ATOMS
Everything around us, including ourselves, is made up of extremely tiny particles called atoms.
Each atom is made of a tiny nucleus, which is made up of positively charged protons (and neutrons with no charge). Surrounding the nucleus of each atom are fast-moving, negatively charged electrons. Even though the electrons are flying around very quickly, they mostly stay around the nucleus as part of that atom.
Atoms do not have "charge". This means that their number of positive parts and negative parts match, or balance out. They atom itself is not positive, or negative. It is neutral because of this balance.
CHARGES IN ATOMS
Atoms are neutral. This means that they their charges are balanced so that they are not positive or negative. They are described as having no charge. This is because the number of positively charged protons in the nucleus matches the number of negatively charged electrons surrounding the nucleus.
ELECTRICITY
Static electricity and current electricity both depend on electrons. Sometimes an electron can escape from an atom. These negative electrons can get loose and flow away from one atom and toward another. A continuous flow of electrons from one atom to the next creates an electric current. If this happens, the atom is no longer neutral, because the number of positive protons and negative electrons no longer matches. When this happens, atoms start pulling on each others electrons to try to regain that balance. An electron can move from one atom to another trying to balance charge, and creating electricity.
Current Electricity
Current electricity is the flow of charge through a material. Electricity is when electrons are quickly passed from one atom to another atom within a material and 'flow' from one end of the material to the opposite end. This 'flow' is similar to what you would see in a pipe filled with flowing water. Some materials, such as metals, allow electrons to flow more easily than other materials; they are called conductors. Some materials do not allow electrons to flow; they are called insulators. Computers, stereos, toasters, dryers and handheld computer games are examples of everyday electronics that utilize current electricity.
An electric current can be defined as the rate of change of charge passing through a pre-determined area during a period of time. The unit used for current is an ampere [A], where 1 ampere = 1 coulomb/second. Ampere is often abbreviated to "amp".
Atoms and Electricity Worksheet Complete this worksheet after reading the information about Atoms and Electricity
After viewing the video "Introduction to Simple Circuits", complete the worksheet.
First Steps
Watch this video to learn the basics of creating a paper circuit. You will receive a set of materials that you can experiment with to see how a circuit works.
This will help you figure out the basics before creating your paper circuit project.
Keep track of all your small pieces, and put them back in your zip baggie at the time for clean up.