Electricity and Magnetism Review Sheet

Name : _____ANSWER KEY______Date: ______

1. Define the following terms:

ion: electrically charged atom

static charge: unbalanced electric charge on an object

electric field: exists around an electric charge

insulator: material/medium in which electrons cannot easily move through

conductor: material/medium that allows electrons to travel through easily

circuit: closed path that electric current can travel through

2. Describe the difference between an electric charge and an electric current. (Make sure to discuss static electricity in your answer.)

Electric charge: an unbalanced positive or negative flow of electrons

Electric current: a steady flow of electrically charged particles

*The difference between an electric charge and current is that the electric charge is a “one time occurrence,” whereas the electric current is a steady, on-going flow of electrons.

3. How does a circuit work? 1. Electricity flows from an energy source through wires (a conductor.) 2. If the loop is closed, electricity flows and the load (light bulb, radio, etc.) works. 3. If the loop is open, no electricity flows and the load (light bulb, radio, etc.) doesn’t work.

4. What is resistance and how does it affect the electric flow of energy through an object?

Resistance: measurement that shows how difficult it is for an electric current to flow through a material/medium.

Low resistance: There is a good flow of electrons. Conductor

High resistance: There is a bad flow of electrons. Insulator 5. Describe Ohm’s Law. There is a relationship between voltage, current, and resistance. The more voltage (energy/electricity), the more current (flow of electrons) there is.

6. Describe the difference between a series circuit and a parallel circuit. Series circuit: one path for electricity/electrons to flow through

Parallel circuit: many paths for electricity/electrons to flow through

Which circuit is better for your home’s electrical “set-up”? Why? Parallel. If one bulb goes out, all of them won’t in a parallel circuit.

7. What is magnetism? Magnetism is an attraction or repulsion between the poles of two magnets.

8. What is a magnetic field and what does it tell you about a magnet? Magnetic field: Lines of “force” that surround a magnet.

A magnetic field tells where the magnet is the strongest (near the poles) as well as allows one to figure out which pole is north and south.

8. How do magnets behave? (Describe what happens with like poles and unlike poles.) Like poles = Repel/move away from one another

Unlike/Opposite Poles = Attract/come together

9. What is an electromagnet? An electromagnet is a magnet that is created by wrapping a current carrying wire around an iron core.

9. What is the relationship between electricity and magnetism? Electricity can cause/create magnetism.