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Unit 10: Electricity Page 15
heat generated by electric power, LED stands for “Light Emitting
and so forth. Diode”. Diodes are one-way
streets for electricity – they allow
An electrical circuit electrons to flow one way but not
is like a NASCAR the other.
raceway. The
electrons (racecars) Remember when you scuffed along
zip around the race the carpet? You gathered up an
loop (wire circuit) superfast to electric charge in your body. That
make stuff happen. Although you charge was static until you zapped
can’t see the electrons zipping someone else. The movement of
around the circuit, you can see the electric charge is called electric
effects: lighting up LEDs, sounding current, and is measured in
buzzers, clicking relays, etc. amperes (A).
There are many different electrical When electric current passes
components that make the through a material, it does it by
electrons react in different ways, electrical conduction. There are
such as resistors (limit current), different kinds of conduction, such
capacitors (collect a charge), as metallic conduction, where
transistors (gate for electrons), electrons flow through a conductor
relays (electricity itself activates a (like metal) and electrolysis, where
switch), diodes (one-way street for charged atoms (called ions) flow
electrons), solenoids (electrical through liquids.
magnet), switches (stoplight for
electrons), and more. We’re going When an atom
to use a combination of LEDs, (like hydrogen)
buzzers, and motors in our circuits or molecule
in our unit together. (like water)
loses an
A CIRCUIT looks like a CIRCLE. electron
When you connect the batteries to (negative
the LED with wire and make a charge), it becomes an ion and
circle, the LED lights up. If you takes on a positive charge. When
break open the circle, electricity an atom (or molecule) gains an
(current) doesn’t flow and the LED electron, it becomes a negative
turns dark. ion. An electrolyte is any
substance (like salt) that becomes
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