Basics of Electricity Name ______
Web Quest Period______
GO TO: www.shsphysicalscience.pbwiki.com to use the live links!
Using the web sites provided, answer the following questions. This web quest should broaden your knowledge and understanding of the basics of electricity and series and parallel circuits.
Historical Background
http://www.ndt-ed.org/EducationResources/HighSchool/Electricity/electricityintro.htm
1. a. The first recorded references to static electricity and lightning were made over 2,500
years ago by ______.
b. Describe the first experiment with static electricity.
______
______
2. In 1600, Dr. William Gilbert coined the term “electrica,” a word that gave rise to our word electricity. What does this term “electrica” describe?
______
Basics of Electricity
http://www.ndt-ed.org/EducationResources/HighSchool/Electricity/valenceshell.htm
3. What is the difference between a conductor and an insulator in terms of electrons?
______
______
______
http://www.ndt-ed.org/EducationResources/HighSchool/Electricity/conductorsinsulators.htm
4. a. Name four metallic conductors.
______
b. Which metallic conductor of the four is the best conductor? ______
5. Name five common materials that are insulators.
______
http://www.ndt-ed.org/EducationResources/HighSchool/Electricity/electricalcurrent.htm
6. The movement of electrons between atoms is called an ______.
7. The energy produced as a result of this flow of electrons from atom to atom is called
______.
http://www.ndt-ed.org/EducationResources/HighSchool/Electricity/amperage.htm
8. What unit measures the flow of electrons? ______
9. How is an amp defined?
______
______
10. What is a coulomb? ______
______
11. Name the instrument used to measure the amount of amps flowing in an electrical circuit.
______
http://www.ndt-ed.org/EducationResources/HighSchool/Electricity/voltage.htm
12. What is the force that causes electrons to move in an electrical circuit?
______
13. Name 3 sources of EMF. ______
14. What happens to the electron flow within a conductor if the EMF or voltage source is
removed? ______
15. What unit used to measure EMF? ______
16. What is a volt?
______
______
______
http://www.ndt-ed.org/EducationResources/HighSchool/Electricity/resistance.htm
17. What is resistance?
______
______
18. In what units is resistance measured? ______
19. Define the term: ohm.
______
______
20. State one example when resistance is desirable.
______
______
21. State one example when resistance is undesirable.
______
______
22. What components are placed in an electrical circuit to control the amount of resistance in circuit? ______
http://www.ndt-ed.org/EducationResources/HighSchool/Electricity/ohmslaw.htm
23. In 1827, George Ohm developed a mathematical relationship between voltage, current, and
resistance called ______.
24. a. State Ohm’s Law in a mathematical equation. ______
b. What do the following variables represent?
I = ______
V = ______
R = ______
I R
25. Using the equation, I = V / R, describe the following:
a. If the voltage is increased what will happen to the current? ______
b. If the resistance is increased what will happen to the current? ______
26. Using the second equation, V = I • R, describe the following:
a. If either the current or the resistance is increased in the circuit, what will happen to the
voltage? ______
27. Using the third equation, R = V / I, describe the following:
a. If the voltage is increased what will happen to the resistance? ______
b. If the current is increased what will happen to the resistance? ______
28. What is the symbol of an ohm? ______
http://www.ndt-ed.org/EducationResources/HighSchool/Electricity/seriesparallelcircuits.htm
29. How is a circuit formed?
______
______
______
30. Explain the relationship of potential and kinetic energy to electricity.
______
______
______
http://www.ndt-ed.org/EducationResources/HighSchool/Electricity/circuitdiagrams.htm
Below is a circuit diagram, list what each part of the diagram represents. Answers are placed on the spaces below.
31. = ______
32. = ______
33. = ______
34. = ______
35. = ______
36. Describe the battery’s positive terminal. ______
37. Describe the battery’s negative terminal. ______
Other useful symbols used in electrical circuit diagrams:
38. = ______
A capacitor is used to store electrical charge. An example would be a timer.
39. =______
http://www.ndt-ed.org/EducationResources/HighSchool/Electricity/seriescircuit.htm
40. Build the series circuit at this web site.
41. Describe a series circuit.
______
______
______
42. What is a load in a circuit?
______
______
43. What is a short circuit?
______
______
______
44. What is used in an electrical circuit to prevent a short circuit?
______
45. Build the series circuit with resistors at this web site.
http://www.ndt-ed.org/EducationResources/HighSchool/Electricity/parallelcircuit.htm
46. Build the parallel circuit at this web site.
47. Describe a parallel circuit.
______
______
48. Build the parallel circuit with a voltmeter at this web site.
49. How is the ammeter always placed in a circuit? ______
50. How is the voltmeter always placed in a circuit? ______
http://www.ndt-ed.org/EducationResources/HighSchool/Electricity/seriesparallel.htm
51. Build the series / parallel circuit at this web site.
52. List the components that are connected in series from the circuit you just constructed.
______
______
______
53. List the components that are in parallel from the circuit you just constructed.
______
______
http://www.ndt-ed.org/EducationResources/HighSchool/Electricity/directcurrent.htm
54. What does DC mean in terms of electrical current?
______
______
55. What do we use every day in our electronic devices that is a good source of direct current?
______
http://www.ndt-ed.org/EducationResources/HighSchool/Electricity/alternatingcurrent.htm
56. What does AC mean in terms of electrical current?
___Scott and Nick are electric.______
______
57. How often is the current alternating directions?
______
______
This last web site listed below is supported by British Energy. There are many interactive features, quiz questions, and a variety of circuit diagrams on each page to construct. This web site will help you to review the basics of electricity and circuits.
· Just a word about British vocabulary, the word torch used in this web site refers to what we call a flashlight.
http://www.schoolscience.co.uk/search.cfm?widCall1=customWidgets.contentItem_show_1&cit_id=3756&subject_id=
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