Electricity & Magnetism Vocabulary Flashcards

Grade 8 Vocabulary for Electricity and Magnetism

New Vocabulary

  • Insulator (Electric)

    • Definition: Material in which electric charges cannot easily move.

  • Conductor (Electric)

    • Definition: Material in which electric charges easily move.

  • Electric Current

    • Definition: Movement of electrically charged particles.

  • Electric Circuit

    • Definition: Closed, or complete, path in which an electric current flows.

  • Resistance

    • Definition: Measure of how difficult it is for an electric current to flow in a material.

  • Voltage

    • Definition: Amount of energy used to move one coulomb of electrons through the circuit.

  • Magnet

    • Definition: An object that attracts iron and other materials that have magnetic qualities similar to iron.

  • Magnetic Force

    • Definition: Push or pull a magnetic field applies to either a magnetic material or an electric current.

  • Electromagnet

    • Definition: Temporary magnet made with a current-carrying wire coil wrapped around a magnetic core.

Materials and Electric Charge

Electrically Neutral Objects Becoming Charged
  • When two objects are rubbed against one another:
    • Electrons transfer from one object to the other, making both objects electrically charged.
  • Note: Only electrons can be transferred between objects; protons are STUCK in the nucleus of an atom and cannot move.

Electric Insulators and Conductors

  • Electric Insulators:

    • A material in which electric charge cannot easily move.
    • Examples include plastic, wood, or glass (non-metals).

  • Electric Conductors:

    • A material in which electric charge easily moves.
    • Examples include copper and gold (metals).
Electric Forces and Charges
  • Electric forces depend on the type of charge:
    • Objects with the same electrical charge will repel each other (push away).
    • For example, a positive object and another positive object will push each other away.
    • This phenomenon is summarized as like charges repel each other: +++ +
    • Objects with different electrical charges will attract each other (pull closer).
    • A positive object and a negative object will pull each other closer, summarizing as opposite charges attract each other: +−+ -

Electric Current: Moving Electrons

  • Electrons: Tiny particles that move around the nucleus of an atom.
    • In conductors, electrons move easily from atom to atom.
  • When free electrons move in the same direction, an electric current is produced:
    • Electric current is the movement of electrically charged particles, such as electrons.
  • As electrons move:
    • Their kinetic energy transforms to other energy forms, such as light and thermal energy.

The Circuit: A Path for Electric Current

  • Electric Circuit Definition: A complete path in which an electric current flows.
    • If the circuit is broken or open at any point, the electric current stops, and any connected devices, like a light bulb, will not function.

Simple Circuit Components

  • Electric conductor
  • Source of electric energy
  • Switch
  • Electric device
Series and Parallel Circuits

  • Series Circuit:

    • Definition: An electric circuit that has only one path for electricity to flow.
    • Important Note: Breaking or opening a series circuit stops the electric current from flowing.

  • Parallel Circuit:

    • Definition: An electric circuit where each device connects to the electric source with a different path or branch.

Voltage and Electric Energy

  • Voltage Definition: Related to the amount of electric energy transformed in a circuit.
    • It is the amount of energy used to move one Coulomb of electrons through a circuit.
    • Key Concept: The higher the voltage in a circuit, the more energy will move, resulting in brighter light emission.

What is a Magnet?

  • Magnet Definition: An object that attracts metals like iron and nickel.
  • Magnetic Materials: Any material a magnet attracts is classified as a magnetic material.

Magnetic Fields and Magnetic Forces

  • Magnetic Force Definition: A push or pull force applied by a magnet or an electrically charged object.
    • The magnetic force is stronger the closer one is to the magnet.
    • Magnetic force becomes weaker as one moves further from the magnet.
Magnetic Poles
  • All magnets contain magnetic poles:
    • North Pole: One side of the magnet.
    • South Pole: The other side of the magnet.
    • Key Concept: The magnetic poles are regions where the magnetic forces are the strongest.
Interaction between Magnetic Poles
  • Unlike Poles: Attract each other.
  • Like Poles: Repel each other.
    • When two unlike poles (e.g., N-S) are close, the magnetic field lines converge.
    • When two like poles (e.g., N-N or S-S) are close, the magnetic field lines diverge.

Vocabulary to KNOW for the Electricity & Magnetism Test

  • Attract: To come together.
  • Decrease: Get smaller.
  • Domain: Area around the item.
  • Electric Charge:
    • Proton: Positive charge.
    • Electron: Negative charge.
    • Neutron: No charge.
  • Electrical Energy: Power generated by movement of charged particles, typically electrons, through a conductor.
  • Electricity: The flow of electric charge, usually electrons.
  • Electromagnet: Made of coils of wire with electricity passing through them.
  • Increase: Get bigger.
  • Magnet: An object that creates an invisible force field, attracting certain metals like iron, steel, nickel, and cobalt, and can attract or repel other magnets.
  • Magnetic Field: A region around a magnetic material or moving electric charge within which the force of magnetism acts.
  • Ohm: SI unit of electrical resistance.
  • Repel: To move away from.
  • Static Electricity: An imbalance of electric charges within or on the surface of a material, remaining until it can either move away as an electric current or through electrical discharge.

Electricity & Magnetism Quiz Preparation

Matching Exercise

  • Match each term with the correct definition:
    1. electricity - c. a form of energy produced by the movement of electrons.
    2. electric charge - a. a property of matter; it can be positive or negative.
    3. atom - g. a tiny building block of matter.
    4. current electricity - d. a steady flow of electric charge.
    5. static electricity - h. the buildup of electric charge on an object.
    6. magnet - b. an object that attracts the metals iron, cobalt, and nickel.
    7. magnetism - e. the force of a magnet that attracts metals.
    8. electromagnet - f. a temporary magnet made when electric current flows through a wire coil wrapped around an iron or steel core.

Multiple Choice Questions

  • Circle the best answer:
    1. Most atoms have a:
      a. positive
      b. negative
      c. neutral charge.
    2. Atoms that gain an electron have a:
      a. positive
      b. negative
      c. neutral charge.
    3. Atoms with a negative charge are attracted to atoms with a:
      a. positive
      b. negative
      c. neutral charge.
    4. Static cling occurs when two objects have:
      a. like charges
      b. unlike charges
      c. no charge.
    5. During static discharge, electrons:
      a. suddenly jump from place to place.
      b. disappear.
      c. become protons.
    6. When electrons have a path to follow, they flow steadily. This is called:
      a. static electricity.
      b. static discharge.
      c. current electricity.
    7. Materials that electric current passes through easily are called:
      a. conductors
      b. insulators
      c. atoms.
    8. A circuit will NOT work properly if it is:
      a. open
      b. closed
      c. parallel.
    9. In a series circuit, the devices are connected one after the other.
      a. series
      b. parallel
      c. switch.

Bonus Activity

  • Draw a complete model of each type of circuit: a series circuit and a parallel circuit.