Energy and Change

What is Electricity?

Electricity is a form of energy. It can be made using coal, oil, wind, water or the
sun. Electrical appliances change electrical energy into other forms of energy such
as light, heat, sound and movement (kinetic energy).

Electricity makes life easier for us. However, there are many homes that do not
have access to electricity. Although life is more difficult for them, they are able
to find other sources of energy that allow them to perform tasks
that we rely on electricity for.

Electrical charge

Matter is anything that takes up space or has mass. A chair, water or even oxygen
is made of matter. If you blow up a balloon, the air takes up space inside the
balloon. Matter is made up of microscopic particles called atoms. Scientists
believe four main things about matter:

 Matter is made up of tiny microscopic particles called atoms.

 Atoms have spaces between them.
 Atoms are always moving.
 Heating atoms gives them energy and makes them move faster, which
makes the spaces between them larger.
 Conductors and Insulators

Some types of matter allow electrons to pass easily form one atom to another and
others do not. If electrons can be passed easily, we call that material a good
conductor. If electricity can’t be passed through a material, we call it an insulator.
By using conductors and insulators, we can control the movement of electricity.
Electrical wires are made out of good conductors, covered by insulators. The metal
wires lead electricity along a path, while the plastic coating stops electricity from
escaping from into other conductive objects nearby

Good electrical conductors Good electrical insulators

Silver Wood
Copper Air
Aluminum Glass
Gold Cotton
Iron Plastic
Steel Rubber
Salt water Distilled water
 Mains electricity supply

This is generated in power stations using coal, water, wind, natural gas, or nuclear
power to turn turbines which use magnets in a generator to create an electrical
charge. Solar energy can also be collected and stored in batteries using
photovoltaic cells.

To move electricity, we must build a path to carry the electricity from the source
to the device so that we can make it do what we need it to. But we need to stop the
electricity from being transferred into objects where we do not want them. In an
electrical system, electrical energy is transferred along its different parts.
 Electrical Circuits

There is a standard format for the representation of electric circuits to simplify

the drawing and understanding of the pathways that electricity can take. These
can be circuits in devices such as torches and radios, as well as circuits in homes
and buildings. Take note of the format and symbols given below.

An Energy Source

Cell/ Battery Symbol

Every circuit needs a source of electrical energy, Cells and batteries are one
source of electrical energy which is commonly used in households. Mains electricity
is the electricity that comes from the power station to our homes.

Cells and batteries

A cell contains chemicals that store energy. When the cells are connected to the
other parts of an electrical system, the energy is changed to electrical energy. The
cell has one side that has a positive charge, and one side with a negative charge.
When the stored chemical runs out, the cell is dead and will not work anymore. The
amount of electricity that a cell or battery can produce is measured in volts.
Different sized batteries produce a different number of volts.
 Conducting material

Wire Symbol

Wires are the conductive material that carries electrical energy from the source
to the other parts of the electric circuit. An electrical current is the movement of
electric charges through a conductor. Electric wires are insulated to keep the
electric current from flowing where it is not wanted.

Devices

Devices are manmade devices that allow us to change electrical energy into other
forms of energy like light, heat, sound or movement.

Bulb Symbol

Bulbs change electrical energy into light energy. The electrical energy is the input
and light is the output. We say that a light bulb is an output device.
 Buzzers Symbol

Buzzers are an electric device that makes a buzzing sound. It converts the
electrical energy to sound energy. Buzzers are available in many forms and sizes.

Motors Symbol
1.

1.

Electric motors convert electrical energy into movement energy. When electricity
passes through a motor, it causes the shaft to spin. This spinning motion can be
used in many ways using other mechanical systems.

Switches Symbol

A switch is designed to break the continuous path of the electric circuit. This
stops the electricity from flowing. Depending on where the switch is positioned,
the electricity can be stopped from reaching different parts of the circuit.

Symbol
Ammeter

Voltmeter Symbol

Some devices, such as a voltmeter and an ammeter, are used to measure different
aspects of a circuit such as the voltage and current.

Each electrical component has its own symbol. People all over the world use the
same symbols so anybody can understand circuit diagrams.

Circuit diagrams

Electricians need to know what components of an electric circuit they need and
where they go in the circuit. They need a circuit diagram, a drawing that shows
them what the circuit should look like. They use the symbol that we have learned
about to save time, and the direction in which the electric current is flowing is
indicated with arrows along the current path. Remember electricity always moves
from negative to positive.

1.1. Simple circuits

A simple circuit has one source
and one device along the path of
conductive material.
1.2. Series circuits
One way of connecting many bulbs
is in a kind of chain, one after the
other. This type of circuit is called
a series circuit. In a series circuit,
the bulbs have to share then
electricity passing through the
circuit. When one bulb is not
working, the flow of electricity is
stopped, so that the other bulb
stops burning as well.

1.3. Parallel circuits

Another way to connect the bulbs is side by side so that each bulb has
its own pathway from the battery. This means that each bulb has its
own supply of electricity. We say that the bulbs are connected in
parallel. The appliances and lights in your home are usually connected
using parallel circuits.