IB MYP 8 Science electricity unit

Lightning

an example of static electricity on a much larger scale in nature.

Static electricity

charge, typically produced by friction, which causes sparks or crackling or the attraction of dust or hair.

uncharged

state in which something isn’t charged by electricity.

charged

state in which something is charged by electricity.

Attraction

The object gets closer to another object because of differing electrical charges.

Repulsion

The object gets farther away from another object because of being the same electrical charge.

Electrical charge and magnetic charge

They are only the same concept, they are completely different and distinct things.

Coulombmeter

Digital meter that finds out whether a charged object has positive or negative charge

Otto van Guericke

One of the scientists that discovered static electricity

free electrons

electrons that reside in an atom’s valence shell as valence electrons and are easily plucked off and carried around, when ac ted upon by an ‘outside force’.

Describing static electricity material

We describe them similarly to how we describe heat transfers; conductors and insulators.

Conductor

they let electrons move freely throughout the solid.

Insulators

they hold to electrons tightly, limiting their flow.

wood

an example of a static electricity insulator

Negative charge

Too many electrons

positive charge

Too little electrons

Law of conservation of electric charge

It says that you can never create a net electric charge. Instead, charge can only move from one place to another.

Triboelectric effect

happens when rubbing two neutral objects and forming one positive charged object and one negatively charged object

humidity on static electricity

The extra water in the air makes the air more conductive, constantly leaking the buildup of electrical charge

Neutral objects

they have net zero charge

Thunderstorm formation

When warm, moist air rises high into the atmosphere

updraft

vocabulary used for when warm, moist air rises high into the atmosphere

Cloud formation

when water vapour in the air cools into water drops called cloud droplets

cloud droplets freezing

They freeze into ice crystals

graupel formation

when cloud droplets and ice crystals collide with each other

storm cloud electrical charge buildup

With the collision of graupel and ice crystals, they form electrical charges of positive and negative

cloud electricity locations

ice crystals with positive charges are located higher within the clouds due to updraft, meanwhile graupel with negative charges are within the nether regions.

lightning electrical discharge

When the cloud forces build up enough electrical charge, the discharge happens with the surface.

Cloud to ground lightning

lightning often connects the negative charge of the clouds with the positive charge of the ground

lightning hitting tall structures

They are the closest to the clouds high up in the skies

Intracloud lightning

when lightning from a negative charge goes to a positively charged cloud

Friction significance

it separates the positive and negative charges that lead to static electricity.

friction electrons

it transfers a valence electron from one atom to the another

electron nucleus attraction

the electron is attracted to the nucleus because of the opposite charges.

electron weakening attraction

Valence electrons lose their attractiveness to an atom the farther away the valence shell is from the nucleus.

neutral attraction explanation

They are attracted because of the mere presence of electrons and protons

everything electric

everything is electric

static electricity imbalance

it is the imbalance of positive and negative charges

difference in materials holding electrons

materials have different attractions with their valence electrons

Difference in materials holding electrons example

silk holds their electrons more tightly than glass

More friction more power

the more the object is interacted through friction (rubbing), the more powerful the charge.

Conductor

Material that allows electricity to pass through them

Conductor variation

Not all conductors are equal; some conductors are better than others.

Copper wire

Example of a conductor

Insulator

Material that do not allow electricity to pass through them

Plastic

This is an example of an insulator

conductor of electricity atomic structure

all of them have an electron that can change between atoms.

electric current

Specific word used to define electricity when utilised.

electric circuit requirements

complete circuit of metal around which the current can flow, a cell (a battery) to make the current flow

Circuit Diagrams

Method in which how different components are connected together in an electric circuit is shown.

Circuit Symbol

symbol for a component within a circuit

Conventional current flow

opposite of the electron flow and comes out from the postiive battery

Electron flow

opposite of the conventional current flow and comes out from the negative battery

Switch Symbol

Light bulb symbol

Wire symbol

simple line. Never curved.

battery Long line

Long line is the positive side of the battery

Battery orientation

The orientation of the battery matches the schematic’s orientation

Battery

composition of two cells

Battery symbol

Cell symbol

Anmeter symbol

Voltmeter symbol

Motor symbol

Resistor symbol

Variable Resistor Symbol

Reason for electric circuits

We can’t rely on static electricity as a source of energy because it is instant and happens all at once, meanwhile we can utilise electric circuits because of its steady flow of energy.

Current

steady flow of electrons

Circuit

Path that a current can follow

Power source

source that provides a steady source of electrons

Hot slot

Where electrons come from within a wall outlet

Load

Device that utilises electricity

Negative terminal

where electricity leaves and goes for the load

Positive terminal

Where the electrons enter in an electric circuit

Neutral slot

where positive charges go within the wall outlet

Electron flow within wall outlet

They flow out of the hot slot and into the load, and goes again back to the wall outlet through the other prong and goes into the neutral slot

Switch

Device that controls electric circuits by opening them or closing them.

Switch off

This means that the circuit is open.

Switch on

This means that the circuit is closed.