Electricity

= ELECTRICITY = = = __**What is Electricity?**__

Electricity is around us every single day. We use it for television, light, the microwave, the kettle and lots more things! It can also be extremely dangerous – think of all those times as a child you were told not to touch the plug sockets if your hands were wet! It is important to be safe with electricity so that you are not electrocuted and so that nothing sets on fire! Safety with electricity will be discussed further on.

__**So how does it work?**__ Atoms are what make up matter. We cannot see atoms. The atom is made of three parts.
 * 1) Neutron (neutrally charged and part of the nucleus)
 * 2) Proton (positively charged and part of the nucleus)
 * 3) Electron (negatively charged and orbits the nucleus)

Electricity is a form of energy that is produced from the movement of ELECTRONS. These electrons are free and flow in a wire as the electrons are able to move freely from one atom to another. This happens because if we put something with a negative charge at one end of a wire and something with a positive charge at the other end, the electrons will move as they will be attracted to the positive and will be repelling the negative. Batteries otherwise known scientifically as a CELL are able to perform this action. The flow of electrons is called a CURRENT. Therefore the current is a flow of charge and this is measured in Amps.

__**Circuits**__

For an electric current to flow a battery or some form of power source is required. There are two types of circuits.
 * 1) Series
 * 2) Parallel

[|Circuit Symbols]

The circuit needs to be complete for it to flow. The diagrams below show a series circuit and what happens if something is missing.
 * 1) **Series Circuits**



We can see that it needs to be complete as without all components connected properly, the bulb will not light. We can also see that without a battery there can be no flow of electrons as there is no positive or negative charge to act upon the free electrons to keep them moving – therefore the bulb cannot light. However, we can see with the complete circuit the bulb is lit. We can also add a switch to control when we want the current to flow and when we do not. If we add more components to a series circuit with just one battery in place, the dimmer bulbs will be, the quieter buzzers will be and the slower motors will be. This is because there is more resitance when there are more components and the harder it is for electricity to get through. We can make the bulbs brighter, buzzers louder and motors faster by adding a second battery.

In a series circuit like the ones above, the current has NO CHOICE of route. A BREAK in the circuit will STOP the current from flowing EVERYWHERE.

In a parallel circuit, the current has a CHOICE of route. As you can see from the diagrams below, a parallel circuit has branches and does not run all around in one like a series circuit. In contrast to a series circuit, it does not matter if there is a break in the components on one branch – the other branches will continue to work. In a parallel circuit, two bulbs will be lit equally bright. This is because there is the same amount of current flowing through no matter which route it takes.
 * 1) **Parallel Circuits**



CURRENT IS NEVER USED UP!

__**So what materials are good for conducting electricity?**__ Some materials let electricity pass through them easily. These materials are known as electrical **conductors**. Many **metals**, such as copper, iron and steel, are good electrical conductors.

Some materials do **not** allow electricity to pass through them. These materials are known as electrical **insulators**. Plastic, wood, glass and rubber are good electrical insulators.

The wire in a circuit is made of metal to allow the electrons to pass freely through it. The wire is surrounded by plastic, so that electricity cannot pass through it and thus cannot harm us when we touch it!

__**Cross Curricular Links**__

The topic of Electricity links to other areas of science as well as the whole curriculum. The following 'Mind Map' expresses the various links that can be made and offers some suggestion activities! Please click on the link below:

Cross-Curricular Mind Map

Save a copy of the image for yourself which will allow you to zoom in and view the whole picture clearly. However, the contents of the mind map are displayed below with no formatting so you can see clearly all the ideas:


 * Maths:**


 * Units of measurement - how do we measure electricity?
 * Volts - potential difference
 * Amps - flow of current
 * Children to compare and investigate different points in a circuit using ampmeters - why is the current higher or lower?
 * Can investigate circuits insulated to varying degrees - log the results - determine which material is the best insulator!


 * Geography/Citezenship:**


 * Sustainable energy - how can we be kind to our planet?
 * Developing a 'save it don't waste it' attitude
 * Turning off lights at school AND at home
 * Different sources of electricity - nuclear, coal, oil, gas, hydroelectric, geothermal etc.


 * History:**


 * Early evidence of electricity in Ancient Civilisation - Static electricity in the Ancient Mediterranean.
 * Try this at home!
 * Try rubbing a balloon on your hair for thirty seconds or so. Now try and stick the balloon to the ceiling. What happens? It sticks due to the attraction caused by the static produced when the balloon comes into contact with your hair.
 * Industrial revolution - development of electricity as a household amenity and technology today
 * The Victorians and Edwardians
 * Domestic life in a Victorian/Edwardian house - compare and contrast uses of electricity now and then.
 * How might have electricity have made a difference one hundred years ago?
 * Suggestion Activity!
 * Create a circuit within a model Victorian house. Year 5s and 6s to create light systems within a mini house. Consider insulators and conductors in selecting appropriate materials to incorporate the circuit safely within the house. Could be used as part of a design and technology project/art exercise - decorate with historical decor?
 * Science Legend!
 * Benjamin Franklin is reputed to have officially 'discovered' electricity by attaching a key to a damp kite string and flying the kite in a storm. The proof? Sparks flying between the key and Franklin's hand. Ouch!


 * Links within science:**


 * Conductors and insulators of heat as oppose to electricity
 * What makes a good/bad conductor?
 * When would you need to insulate/conduct heat/electricity?

__**Misconceptions**__


 * Wire is made entirely of plastic. They may not realise that there is metal inside which conducts the electricity. A good thing to do is show the children a broken wire or perhaps find a wire with a little bit sticking out to give them visualisation.
 * Longer or more wires mean that more electricity is used up.
 * Current is used up.
 * Current comes from the battery.
 * Electricity comes from the socket in the wall.
 * A bigger battery will make electricity run longer/bulbs be brighter.
 * The more bulbs that are put in a series circuit, the brighter they will be.
 * Batteries have electricity in them.

__**Electrical Safety**__

The 'Be Safe' science booklet for school recommends using a safety code, a summary of which is found below:


 * Teach children the dangers of misusing electricity and warn of possible dangers at home and in the classroom
 * Never used a damaged/frayed electrical cable
 * Model good the good practice of SWITCHING OFF the mains switch BEFORE unplugging the cable from the socket.
 * Only use approved plugs
 * Store batteries without the ends touching (they can short circuit!)
 * Do not allow children to play around with batteries - their contents are corrosive
 * Dispose of old batteries before they can leak and cause damage.


 * __Tips for teaching Electricity__**

__**Activity**__

Below is AC explaining a kinaesthetic way of getting children to understand how electricity flows aound a circuit: media type="youtube" key="qflJGxwt0Fc" width="425" height="350" __**References**__ Images from: []