Electricity

Chapter 20 Prentice Hall

Physical Science

Electric Charge

Electric Charge: property that causes

subatomic particles to attract or repel

2 Types: positive and negative

Protons are positive

Electrons are negative

Net charge is caused by an excess or

shortage of electrons

Charge is conserved the total number

of protons equals the total number of
electrons
2

Electric Charge Diagram

Neutral object:
positives
balance
negatives.

+
Negatively
charged
object:
negative
charges
outnumber the
positives.

+
Positive
object:
positive
charges
outnumber the
negatives.
3

Electric Force

Like charges REPEL

Unlike charges ATTRACT
Coulombs Law describes Electric
Force

As charge goes up, the force increases.

As the distance between charges goes
up, the force gets weaker (decreases).

Electric Force (contd)

Opposite charges attract: (The arrows represent

the force.)
+

If the charge on one object is doubled, the force

between the two is doubled:
2+

If the distance between the objects is doubled,

the force between them is decreased by one
fourth:

Static Electricity

Static electricity: study of the

behavior of electric charges
Charges are transferred by
friction, contact or induction.
Law of conservation of charge:
the total charge in an isolated
system is constant.
6

Static Discharge

Static discharge occurs when a

pathway through which charges
can move forms suddenly.
Example: Lightning

Electric Current

Electric Current: continuous flow of

electric charge
Symbol: I
SI Unit: Ampere (A)
Two types:

Direct Current (DC) charge flows only one

direction
Alternating Current (AC) flow of electric
charge that regularly reverses direction
8

Conductors, Insulators and

Semiconductors

Conductors

Insulators

Materials through which charge flows easily

Examples: most metals
Materials through which charge does NOT
flow easily
Examples: wood, rubber, plastic and air

Semiconductors

Insulators in their pure state

Become good conductors when impurities
are added in a controlled way
9

Electric Circuits

Electric circuit: a complete path

through which charge (current) can flow

Example: a battery powering a light

e-

http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/story/chapter04.html

Circuit diagram: uses symbols to

represent parts of a circuit
10

Resistance

Resistance: a materials opposition

to flow of charge

Materials resist the flow of charge

because electrons that are moving
through the material interact with other
electrons and nuclei, which slows them
down.
Symbol of resistance: R
SI Unit: Ohm ()
11

Factors Affecting
Resistance

Thickness (or diameter)

Length

More electrons can flow through a thicker material.

As thickness (or diameter) increases, resistance
decreases.
Electrons have to travel farther in a longer wire, so they
encounter more opposition.
As length increases, resistance increases.

Temperature

Atoms and electrons move more at higher temperatures,

so flowing electrons collide more often with other
electrons and nuclei at higher temperatures.
As temperature increases, resistance increases.
12

Voltage

Charges will not flow without a source of

energy. (Think of water it will not flow if
sitting in a flat container. However, if you
tilt the container and give it gravitational
potential energy, the water will flow.)
Voltage: electrical potential energy
difference between two points in an
electric field

Symbol: V
SI Unit: Volts (V)
13

Voltage Sources

Batteries

Convert chemical energy to electrical

energy
DC voltage source

Wall outlets

Transmit electrical energy from source to

appliances in our homes and offices
AC voltage sources

14

Ohms Law

Current, voltage and resistance are related in a

circuit according to Ohms Law:
V IR

Voltage Current Resistance

If the resistance stays the same, what happens

if the voltage increases?

The current increases.

If the voltage stays the same, what happens if

the resistance increases?

The current goes down.

15

16

Static in Winter VS
Summer?

Moist air conducts

electricity better than dry
air, so charge bleeds off
quickly. When the air is
dry, the electrons can
hang around on your body
for a long time, charging
you up to thousands of
volts. That can last until
you touch something that
can conduct them away,
like a doorknob or your
significant other.
17

18

Electric Power

Electric power: rate at which

electric energy is converted to
other forms of energy
SI Unit: Watts
Electric power is calculated from
current and voltage:

P I V
19

20

Magnetism
Chapter 21 Prentice Hall Physical
Science

Magnetic Force
21

Magnetic Force: the force a magnet

exerts on either

another magnet
on iron (or similar metal)
on moving charges

Magnetic poles: regions in a magnet

where the magnetic force is strongest

All magnets have two poles: north and

south.
Like poles repel; Unlike poles attract.

Magnetic Fields
22

Magnetic field: the direction and strength of

magnetic forces in a region around a magnet

Strongest around the poles of a magnet

Field lines point FROM the north pole TO the south pole

Magnetosphere: Area surrounding Earth affected by

Earths magnetic field

Iron filings and compasses show the shape and direction

of the magnetic field. (Source: http://www.school-forchampions.com/science/magnetic_detection.htm)

Bill Allan, Katja Riedel, Richard McKenzie, Sylvia Nichol and Tom Clarkson.
'Atmosphere', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 21-Sep-2007
URL:
http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/EarthSeaAndSky/ClimateAndAtmosphere/Atmosphere/en

Magnetic Field lines around a magnet.

The field comes out of the North end of the magnet and goes
into the South end of the magnet. The field is strongest at the
poles. Notice the lines are closer together there.

Magnetic Domains

A region in
which many
atoms have
their magnetic
fields aligned is
called a
magnetic
domain

Magnetic domains and field

lines

Magnetic Materials
26

Ferromagnetic: material that can be

magnetized because it contains
magnetic domains

In an unmagnetized material,
the magnetic domains are
randomly aligned.

In a magnetized material, the domains

have been aligned by placing the
material in a magnetic field.

Source: http://www.audiomasterclass.com/arc.cfm?a=noise-the-curse-of-analog-recording

Attraction and Repulsion

Attraction

Repulsion

Attraction/Repulsion

Electricity and Magnetism

29

Electromagnetic force: force

associated with charged particles

Electric force results from charged

particles.
Magnetic force results from moving
charges.
Force of magnetic field
on the charge

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