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Atoms
Atoms
The atom is the basic building block for all matter in the universe. Atoms are extremely small and are made up of a few even smaller particles. The basic particles that make up an atom are electrons, protons, and neutrons. Atoms fit together with other atoms to make up matter. The term "atom" comes from the Greek word for indivisible, because it was once thought that atoms were the smallest things in the universe and could not be divided.
Protons
The proton is a positively charged particle that is located at the center of the atom in the nucleus.
Neutrons
The neutron doesn't have any charge. The number of neutrons affects the mass and the radioactivity of the atom.
Electrons
The electron is a negatively charged particle that spins around the outside of the nucleus.
Nucleus
The center of the atom that contains both protons and neutrons. Electrons spin outside the nucleus.
attract
attract
When two objects have opposite charges, they attract.
repel
repel
When two objects have the same charge, they repel.
Static Electricity
Static Electricity
Static electricity is the temporary buildup of electric charge that collects on the surface of an object.
Static Discharge
Static Discharge
The sudden flow of electrons is static discharge. The discharge of electrons is the spark you see and the shock you feel.
conductor
conductor
An electrical conductor is a substance in which electrical charge carriers, usually electrons, move easily from atom to atom
insulator
insulator
An electrical insulator is a material whose internal electric charges do not flow freely; very little electric current will flow through it under the influence of an electric field.
check out this link (take the practice quiz in the upper right hand corner of site)
check out this link (take the practice quiz in the upper right hand corner of site)
current
current
Electrical current is simply the movement of electrons in a conductor.
There are two kinds of current electricity: direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC). With direct current, electrons move in one direction. Batteries produce direct current. In alternating current, electrons flow in both directions. Power plants produce AC electric current. Alternating current (AC) is the type of electricity that powers most homes and businesses.
Series Circuits
Series Circuits
A series circuit is a circuit in which resistors are arranged in a chain, so the current has only one path to take.
Parallel circuits
Parallel circuits
Parallel circuits are circuits in which the charges leaving the source have different paths they can follow to get back to the source.
Solenoid
Solenoid
a cylindrical coil of wire acting as a magnet when carrying electric current.
Electromagnet
Electromagnet
An electromagnet is a type of magnet in which the magnetic field is produced by an electric current. Electromagnets usually consist of wire wound into a coil.
fuse
fuse
A device that shuts off the power to an electrical circuit when too much electric current flows through it. Fuses can be used only once and then need to be replaced.
circuit breaker
circuit breaker
A device designed to shut off an electrical circuit when too much current is flowing. A circuit breaker does the same job as a fuse, but unlike a fuse, a circuit breaker does not need to be replaced to be reset.
Light: 1. Waves
Light: 1. Waves
crest
crest
The high point of a wave
trough
trough
The low point of a wave
Wavelength
Wavelength
The distance between two wave crests/troughs
frequency
frequency
The number of waves that pass by a point each second.
Light: 2. The Electromagnetic Spectrum
Light: 2. The Electromagnetic Spectrum
The Electromagnetic Spectrum
The Electromagnetic Spectrum
The range of frequencies of electromagnetic radiation and their respective wavelengths and photon energies
Go here and learn more! (make sure to try the Practice after you've read)
light: 3. Behavior of Light
light: 3. Behavior of Light
Light travels in straight lines in all directions from a source
Shadows are created because light travels in straight lines and does not curve around objects
In a vacuum, light travels at about 186,000 miles per second!
Light: 4. How light moves?
Light: 4. How light moves?
reflected
reflected
Light that bounces off of an object
absorbed
absorbed
Trapped light that is not reflected or transmitted. Most absorbed light changes to heat.
Light: 5. Transparent, Translucent, Opaque
Light: 5. Transparent, Translucent, Opaque
transparent
transparent
A material that lets light pass through it without scattering the light.
translucent
translucent
A material that lets some light pass through it, but it scatters light.
opaque
opaque
Materials that do not transmit or allow light to pass through them.
light: 6. refraction
light: 6. refraction
refraction
refraction
A change in the direction of light when it passes from one kind of material to another.
Go here and learn more! - (make sure to try the Practice after you've read)
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