Electricity

Everything in the universe is made of matter. All matter is made up of tiny particles called atoms that have a positive charge (protons), a negative charge ( electrons) and a neutral, or uncharged state ( neutrons).

Let’s try to activate some prior knowledge about positive and negative charges.

For each image, select the corresponding description.

Static and current

Electricity involves the flow, or movement, of electrons and the energy they produce when they flow from place to place.

What’s the difference between these two types of electricity?

• static electricity
• current (or dynamic) electricity

Press ‘Let’s Check!’ to access the difference between static and current electricity.

Let’s Check!

Current electricity

As explored in the Minds On section, current electricity involves the movement of electrons along a path or circuit, creating a current.

Current electricity requires three components:

• an energy source (like a battery)
• a conductor or path for the electrons to flow along (wire)
• a load to power (like a lightbulb or motor)

When electrons move from the energy source along a path that is connected to a load, they produce electricity and power the load! This is called a circuit.

Did You Know?

Did you know?

Electron flow vs. conventional current flow

Did you know that in circuits, the direction that electrons flow is actually opposite to the way that most diagrams show the conventional current flow?

Why is that? Well, when electricity was still being discovered, scientists and inventors didn’t actually know which way the current was flowing for sure, and they thought that it had to do with the flow of positive charges, so they made an educated guess!

We now know that their guess was not entirely correct, and current has to do with the flow of negative charges (called electrons) usually from the negative end of an energy source, then along a conductor, or path, and into the positive end of the same energy source.

Let’s explore the two types of circuits:

A closed circuit forms a full loop and provides a complete path for electrons to flow all the way around the circuit. This allows electricity to reach and power the load.

An open circuit makes an incomplete path for electricity to travel along. This means that the electrons cannot flow all the way around the circuit to reach the load.

Previous Next

When a circuit works correctly, electrons can travel through the circuit from the battery, through the wires, and power the load.

A switch is something that is often used to allow us to control whether a circuit is open or closed.

For example, when a light switch is in the ‘off’ position, the flow of electricity to the light is interrupted, because the circuit is open, and the path is not connected.

When we flip the light switch to the ‘on’ position, we are completing the circuit and allowing the electricity to flow to the lightbulb, which powers it on.

Circuits

There are two types of circuits: series and parallel.

Press the following tabs to explore the two types of circuits.

Series circuit

A series circuit is a simple loop with only one path for energy to follow. The same amount of electrical current flows through all components on the circuit. There can be multiple loads (ex. lightbulbs) on this path that are connected in a line, or in a series. The more loads that the circuit has, the dimer the light will be because they are all sharing the voltage.

If one component of a series circuit doesn’t work, then the whole circuit stops working, because the flow of electrons is interrupted and the circuit in incomplete.

Series circuits are often a cost-effective solution because they use lower voltages given that all the loads in the series have to share it.

One example is household decorative string lights. These are made up of small lightbulbs connected in a series. If one bulb burns out, none of the other bulbs will light up because the circuit is now incomplete.

Parallel circuits

A parallel circuit has multiple loops branching off from the main circuit and each loop has its own load. The loads always lay parallel to each other much like the lanes in a swimming pool. This means that the electric current has multiple paths to flow along, and all components have constant voltage reaching them.

In the case of parallel circuit lightbulbs, each load has its own independent circuit and because there is more than one available path for electrons to flow through, if one bulb burns out, it would not affect the other bulbs in the circuit.

One example of a parallel circuit is the wiring in a building, because there is one power source that supplies electricity for all of the lights and other appliances. If one light burns out, the current will continue to flow to the rest of the lights and appliances without interruption.

Building circuits

Let’s experiment with creating our own circuits.

Access the following link to build and investigate the similarities and differences between series and parallel circuits.

Circuits(Opens in a new window)

Press ‘Let’s Check!’ to access key tips for using the virtual simulator.

Let’s Check!

• Let’s start with a series circuit. From the menu on the left side, press and place a source (battery), a path (wires), and several loads (lightbulbs) to create a series circuit.
• You may need to rotate some of the components to create your circuit.
• To connect components, overlap the red circles. When they turn black, they are successfully connected.
• Make sure your wires connect to different circles on the lightbulb. What happens if you connect them to the same red circle on the lightbulbs?
• Experiment with adding in a switch, inserting a different material to the circuit, and/or reducing and increasing the resistance in one of the lightbulbs. When you do this, what happens to the electron flow and/or the rays coming out of the other lightbulbs?
• Now, repeat the process, but let’s create a parallel circuit.

Investigate

Investigate

What did you observe through your investigation with the circuit simulator?

• What conclusions can you draw on the similarities and differences between series and parallel circuits?

Let’s investigate!

Complete the Comparing Circuits Activity in your notebook or using the following fillable and printable document. If you would like, you can use speech-to-text or audio recording tools to record your thoughts.

Comparing Circuits Activity

My observations about series circuits: *Try to include a labeled drawing or image of the series circuit you created.
My observations about parallel circuits: *Try to include a labeled drawing or image of the parallel circuit you created.
Similarities between series and parallel circuits:
Differences between series and parallel circuits:
What are some advantages and disadvantages of series and parallel circuits?
What is a real-life situation where using one type of circuit might be more beneficial than using the other? Explain your reasoning.
Why is a switch beneficial to have in a circuit?
Lingering questions that I still have:
Additional notes or conclusions that I can make about series and parallel circuits (optional):

Press the ‘Activity’ button to access Comparing Circuits Activity. 

Activity(Open PDF in a new window)

Self-assessment

Reflecting on our work and self-assessing is an important step in our learning process. Before continuing, take a moment and use the following checklist to assess your learning thus far:

Learning check!

How well do you understand the difference between series and parallel circuits?

Check your understanding by completing the following activities.

Select the correct answer, then press “Check Answer” to see how you did.

Press ‘Hint!’ to access an explanation for the most beneficial option.

Hint!

Which one?

Let’s explore and choose which of the following are real-life examples of series or parallel circuits.

Your examples

Think of any other real-life examples of series or parallel circuits.

Create a list, and if possible, include a diagram or explanation of how each of your examples displays a series or parallel circuit.

Record your list and ideas in a notebook or another method of your choice.

Reflection

As you read through these descriptions, which sentence best describes how you are feeling about your understanding of this learning activity? Press the button that is beside this sentence.

I feel…

I have an excellent understanding of the concepts I have a very good understanding of the concepts I have some understanding but need to review some more my understanding of the concepts needs a lot more work

Now, record your ideas using a voice recorder, speech-to-text, or writing tool.