Electricity and Magnetism Unit

What is an atom?

• A tiny building block of matter

• Electron: negative charge; can move freely between atoms

• Proton: positive charge

• Neutron: no charge• A neutral atom has

a balance of protons and electrons

Parts of an AtomElectrons are the

smallest of the particles that make up an atom. They are found in shells

that surround/orbit around the nucleus. The nucleus is the center of

the atom. It is composed of protons and

neutrons.

http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/matter/atoms.htm

First 10 Elements – Properties & ExamplesElement (Symbol)

Protons (+) Electrons (-) Neutrons (0) Example Type of Matter

Hydrogen (H) 1 1 0 Sun, Stars, Water

Gas

Helium (He) 2 2 2 Balloons Gas

Lithium (Li) 3 3 4 Watch Batteries

Solid

Beryllium (Be)

4 4 5 Emeralds Solid

Boron (B) 5 5 6 Heat-Resistant Glass

Solid

Carbon (C) 6 6 6 Plants and Animals

Solid

Nitrogen (N) 7 7 7 Atmosphere & Ammonia

Gas

Oxygen (O) 8 8 8 Air & Water Gas

Fluorine (F) 9 9 10 Toothpaste & Rocket Fuel

Gas

Neon (Ne) 10 10 10 Signs Gas

http://www.chem4kids.com/files/elem_intro.html

Summary

• Atoms are tiny particles that make up all matter• The nucleus is at the center of the atom and is

made up of protons and neutrons• Electrons circle around the nucleus• When two or more atoms combine it’s called a

molecule• If the atoms that combine are all the same, it’s an

element. If the atoms are different, it’s called a compound

Review with BrainPopAtomsPeriodic Table of Elements

What is Electricity?

• A form of energy that comes from the movement of electrons; electric energy

• Cause: the movement of electrons• Static Electricity: the build up of electric

charge on an object• Static Discharge: the loss of electric charge

http://www.physics4kids.com/files/elec_intro.html

How an Atom becomes charged…

• The atom itself has no charge– It is neutral

• Electron’s move freely between atoms• An atom with more protons than electrons is

positively charged• An atom with more electrons than protons is

negatively charged

Positive charge next to a Negative charge

• Objects with unlike charges pull together, attract– Example: clothes when they come out of the dryer

with static cling

Lightening

• A very strong static discharge

• Lightning Safety– Go indoors right away– Don’t use the telephone or computer– If you can’t go indoors, stay away from high places

and open fields– Stay away from water– Never go under a tree

During a lightning strike, electrons jump from cloud to the ground.

BrainPopThunderstorms

Current Electricity

• Current Electricity: the steady flow of electric charge; electric current– Example: anything plugged into walls or runs on batteries

• Conductors: a material through which current electricity passes easily (ex: metal)

• Insulators: a material through which current electricity does not pass easily (ex: nonmetal – glass, rubber, plastic, air)

Electric Circuits

3 Parts of an Electric Circuit1. A source of electric charge, such as a battery2. A device, such as a light bulb, that needs

electric energy to work3. Wire that links the source of charge and the

device in a loop

Series Circuit

• A circuit that has only one path for electric current to flow.

• If you switch off one of the devices, the circuit is open and current will not flow.

Parallel Circuit

• A circuit that has more than one path for electric current to flow. (ex: house wiring)

Review with:Magic School BusSeason 4Episode 9

BrainPopCurrent ElectricityElectric CircuitsStatic Electricity

• Magnet: an object that attracts the metals iron, cobalt, and nickel

• Magnetism: the force of a magnet• Magnetic field: the area around a magnet

where its magnetism acts• Electromagnet: a temporary magnet made

when electric current flows through a wire coil wrapped around an iron or steel core

BrainPopElectromagnets

Energy Resources

• Generators: a machine that uses motion energy to make electric current

• How a generator works:– Motion energy from a turbine turns a wire coil– The wire coil spins within a magnetic field– As the coil spins, electric current is made– Electric current moves to metal rings– The rings spin against brushes– Electricity moves from the brushes to wires– The wires carry electric energy away to the places where it

will be used

• Fossil fuels: a fuel that formed over millions of years from the buried remains of plants and animals; coal, oil, and natural gas

• Nonrenewable resource: an energy resource that cannot be replaced easily once it is used up

• Renewable resource: an energy resource that can be replaced easily or cannot be used up

BrainPopFossil FuelsNatural Resources