When we rub a pen against a wool jumper and then hold the pen near some small pieces of paper, the pieces will stand up and stick to the pen.
This happens because of electrical charges. The pen becomes electrically charged whe it is rubbed against something. Then, it is able to attract small objects.
All objects aroun us, such as your body or the stars, have electrical charges.
Electrical charges can be positive or negative. Obejects around us usually have the same number of positive and negative charges. This means they are electrically neutral.
However, negative charges can move from one object to another. When non-metal objects are rubed againts each other , they gain or lose negative charges and become electrically charged.
An object that gains negative charges becomes negatively charged .
An object that loses negative charges becomes positively charged.
Electrically charged objects interact with each other in two different ways:
Objects with the same charge repel. They push away from each other.
Objects with opposite charges attract. They pull towards each other.
An electric current is the flow of electrical charges through materials.
When more electrical charges circulate , the electric current is stronger and more electricity flows.
Electricity carried in an electric current can easily be transformed into other forms of energy.
Materials can be clasified into two types, depending on how easily electrical charges can flow through them.
Conductors. This are materials that allow electrical charges to move freely.
Insulators . This are materials that do not allow electrical charges to move.
An electric circuit is a closed path through which eletricity flows.
The circuit needs to form a complete circle in other to work.
We use circuit diagrams to illustrate circuits.
Slide 9
Components of electric circuits
The generator. This provides the electricity.
Cables. This transport the electricity from the generator to the other components of the circuit.
Devices. This transform the electricity into another type of energy.
The switch. This controls the flow of electricity by closing or opening the circuit.
Most electrical appliances do not work with batteries.
They must be connected to the electrical grid through a socket.
Every socked is conected by cables to a national grid,which supplies electriciti created in power plants.
Power plants produce electricity from different energy sources.
In thermal power plants, fosil fuels , uranium or plutonium are used to heat up water.
In wind power plants,wind moves a turbine wich is connected to a generator.
In hydroelectric power plants, water moves a turbine which is connected to a generator.
In solar power plants, heat or light from the Sun are used to produce electricity.
Solar panel absorbs light from the sun, which is converted directly into electricity.
Slide 12
Magnetism
MAGNETS
A magnet is an object wich attracts other objects made of iron and other magnetic metals.
We call this atraction magnetism.
Magnets can be natural or artificial.
Some minerals, like magnetite, attrct metallic objects .
All magnets have two areas, called poles.
These areas are known as the north magnetic pole (N) and the south magnetic pole (S).
Magnetic forces can act at a distance.
When we put two magnets next to each other, they can attract or they can repel each other.
Caption: : MAGNETIC FORCES
Slide 14
The Earth's magnetism
However, the magnetic poles of the Earth are opposite to the geographic poles.
The North Magnetic Pole is found in the South, near the South Pole, and the South Magnetic Pole is found in the north, near the North Pole.