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Electricity & Electric Circuits
Is there a difference between the zap you get from scuffing your socks on the carpet and a bolt of lightning?
Yes! There is one difference, and it is quantity. When you scuff along the carpet, you’re gathering up electrons from the floor. When you touch someone, the electrons jump right over, zapping the both of you. Lightning does the same thing, just with a lot more power.
Although we can’t ‘see’ electricity flow through wires, you can certainly see, hear, and feel its effects: the light bulb flashing on, the hair dryer blowing, the radiant heat generated by electric power, and so forth.
The videos below will get you started in your journey with electricity!
Introduction video:
More in-depth Intro Videos:
The smallest bit of stable matter is the atom. There are three main parts to an atom – proton, neutron, and electron. The proton and neutron are stuck together at the center of the atom (called the nucleus) and the electrons whirl around the nucleus in a cloud. Electrons have a negative charge, and protons have a positive charge.
Atoms usually have a balance of charges – the same number of positive and negative charges. “Like” charges (two protons or two electrons) repel each other, the same way two north sides of a magnet repel each other. Opposite charges (positive and negative) attract, like the north and south ends of magnets. When you steal negative electrons from an atom, the atom becomes positive. The imbalance of charges makes things move, roll, spin, zip, and shake up the world around you.
What if you want to build these circuits, but you don’t have any materials? In this next video, I’ll show you how you can build simple electrical circuits using tape, aluminum foil, paperclips and batteries!
Live Summer Camp Workshop
The video below is taken from a live science camp workshop, so you can really feel like part of the group!
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