1. Electricity Basic Facts
Sections 1.1E, 1.2E, 1.3E, 2.1E, 2.1E
Electric charge is a property of matter.
It allows an object to exert an electric force on another one without touching it.
The electric field is the area around a particle through which an electric charge
can exert this force.
In an atom, protons have (+)charge and electrons have (-)charge.
Equal charges repel, opposite charges attract.
Charge can be transferred by contact when the objects touch each other, or by
induction without direct contact.
In nature some fish use electricity to find their meal such as electric eels, sharks, cat
fish, jelly fish.
Charges can move from one place to another through conductor materials such
as iron, steel, copper and aluminum.
Materials that don’t easily allow a charge to pass through are called insulators,
such as plastic and rubber.
A flow of charge is called electric current.
Three measurements are important for the study of electricity: voltage(volts),
resistance(ohms) and current(amps).
Ohm’s Law Current = Voltage I=V
Resistance R
A device to produce electric current is the electric cell or battery.
Since charge needs a continuous path to flow a circuit is a closed path through
which charge can flow. With a switch you control the flow by closing or opening
the circuit.
Parts of a circuit and standard symbols:
Voltage source Switch Light Bulb Motor
Conductor wire Buzzer or Bell

2. Two ways in which a circuit can be constructed are:
Series circuit – A current follows a single path
Advantages-Less material for construction, simple to construct
Disadvantages-All elements must work, more devices added less current available
Parallel circuit-A current follows more than one path
Advantages-If an element burns, the other ones still work
Disadvantages-More material, more expensive to construct
Team project (3 members)
Build a circuit with a design. Hand in circuit diagram of your project
printed.