Understanding Electricity and Atom Structure

Atom

The basic building block of ordinary matter, consisting of protons, electrons, and neutrons.

Ion

An atom with a positive or negative charge, formed by gaining or losing electrons.

Anion

A negatively charged ion formed when an atom gains an electron.

Cation

A positively charged ion formed when an atom loses an electron.

Cathode

Part of a battery with more anions.

Anode

Part of a battery with more cations.

Static Electricity

Builds up when electrons move between insulating materials, causing positive and negative charges.

Current Electricity

The flow of electrons carrying electrical energy from one place to another.

Electric Current

The rate at which electric charge flows in a conductor, measured in Amperes (A).

Voltage

Measures the difference in electrical energy between two points in a circuit, measured in Volts (V).

Resistance

Caused by electrons colliding with metal ions along a wire, higher in thin wires and lower in thick wires.

Series Circuits

Electrical components connected in a single loop where if one component goes out, they all go out.

Parallel Circuit

Electrical components connected alongside each other, forming extra loops where if one component goes out, others remain functional.

Conductors

Materials with free electrons that conduct electricity, such as metals.

Insulators

Materials without free electrons that do not conduct electricity, such as rubber and plastic.

Independent Variable

The factor deliberately changed by the experimenter in an experiment.

Dependent Variable

The factor measured as a result of changing the independent variable in an experiment.

Control Variables

Other factors in an experiment that need to be controlled as they could affect the outcome.

Qualitative Data

Descriptive data without numbers, such as colors or textures.

Quantitative Data

Numerical data that can be measured, such as temperature or weight.

Mean

Average calculated by adding all values and dividing by the number of values.

Column/Bar Graph

Used for discrete data categories, like flavors of ice cream.

Line Graph

Used for continuous data, like height of a plant or amount of rainfall.