Standard: SC.EM.A .01.02

Defines each of the following terms: power, electrical charge, current, resistance, voltage-

Power:

The energy or motive force by which a physical system or machine is operated

 

Electrical Charge:

One of the basic properties of the elementary particles of matter giving rise to all electric and magnetic forces and interactions. The two kinds of charge are given negative and positive algebraic signs: measured in coulombs.

 

Current:

The time rate of flow of electric charge, in the direction that a positive moving charge would take and having magnitude equal to the quantity of charge per unit time: measured in amperes.

 

Resistance:

Also called  ohmic resistance.  a property of a conductor by virtue of which the passage of current is opposed, causing electric energy to be transformed into heat: equal to the voltage across the conductor divided by the current flowing in the conductor: usually measured in ohms.

 

Voltage:

1. The rate at which energy is drawn from a source that produces a flow of electricity in a circuit; expressed in volts

2. The difference in electrical charge between two points in a circuit expressed in volts

 

Describes two renewable resources used to generate electricity-

Hydroelectric:

Dams are built across a river in a canyon or place that can be dammed, the dam creates an artificial lake. Water goes from the lake into inlet towers with lots of pressure, the water travels through pipes that lead to massive turbines. The high pressure water turns the turbines. The turbines are attached to generators that create electricity. An example of this is the Hover Dam.

Wind:

In places that have a constant flow of wind, wind tubines can be put up. The turbines most commonly have three blades, the wind flows up against the blade turning the turbines. The turbines are connected to a generator or generators, that create electricity.

 

Describes two nonrenewable resources used to generate electricity-

Fossil Fuel Power Plant:

In these power plants fossil fuels are burned to create heat, the heat is used to create steam. The steam spins a turbine, the turbine is attached to a generator. The generator makes electricity.

Nuclear Power:

In a nuclear power plant a nuclear fuel most commonly uranium is used for there reactors. The reactors create a massive amount of heat, which is used to heat water to create steam, the steam goes and turns large turbines. The turbines turn generators which creates electricity.

 

Compares and contrasts series circuits with parallel circuits-

In a series circuit the current will flow through every component in the circuit. All of the components in a series circuit have the same current in one pathway. The big problem with a series circuit is that if the connection is broken then every component will not work (like on a strand of chrismas lights when a light bulb burns out and none of the lights work anymore). In a parrellel circuit if the connection if broken the current will continue to flow. If a light bulb burnes out in newer light strands the rest of the lights will continue to work(right image), the current does not flow through the light bulb, so if a bulb goes out the entier strand wont stop working.

Flash Video: Click Here

 

 

Resources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Series_and_parallel_circuits

http://msnucleus.org/membership/html/k-6/as/technology/4/ast4_3a.html

Definitions from: dictionary.reference.com