1. What is Electric Current?
S5pb. Determine the necessary for
completing an electric circuit.
Rocking Electricity

2. Main Idea- Electric charges can move if they have a complete pathway to follow.
Electric Current- a continuous flow of electric charges.
In order for energy to be useful , it must be controlled. They must move
continuously. This continuous flow of electric charges is called ELECTRIC
CURRENT.
BrainPop- Electric Circuits

3. Conductors
Conductors- Materials that charged particles
(electrons) can move easily through.
Examples: most metals, water, and living things

4. Insulators
Insulators- materials that electric charges
(electrons) do not flow through easily.
Examples: rubber, glass, air, and wood

5. Conductors and Insulators
Conductors and insulators are used together to
control and direct the flow of electric charges.
Think about a toaster. How does electricity get
safely to it? Conductors and Insulators

6. Circuits and Switches
The pathway that electric current follows is called
an ELECTRIC CIRCUIT.
•A CLOSED circuit, or complete circuit, has a path
that does not have any gaps or openings.
•An OPEN circuit, or incomplete circuit, has a gap
in its path.
•SWITCH- a device that opens or closes a circuit.
Closed Circuit Open Circuit

7. Every Circuit Has At Least THREE Parts
1. A power source
2. A conductor
3. An object that uses electric current
Real World Science

8. Some Circuits Have More Parts
• Switch
• More than one battery or power source
• More than one object using the current

9. Two Ways to Arrange a Circuit
1. Series circuit- circuit in which the parts are
connected so that the electric current passes
through each part along a single pathway
2. Parallel circuit- circuit in which the parts are
connected so that the electric current passes along
more than on pathway
Series and Parallel Circuits
Series Circuit Parallel Circuit
If you remove one part If you remove one part of
of the circuit, you the circuit, current still
create a gap. Current moves through other
no longer moves parts.
through any of the
parts.

10. Let’s sum it up!
Bill Nye - Circuits!