Learning Goals Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company I will investigate and illustrate the fact that the flow of electricity requires.

Learning Goals

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

• I will investigate and illustrate the fact that the flow of electricity requires a closed circuit (a complete loop). SC.5.P.11.1

• I will identify and classify materials that conduct electricity and materials that do not. SC.5.P.11.2

Lab QuizUnit 6, Lesson 1

Sidney wants to make an electric circuit. She gathers the items shown below.

What additional item does Sidney need to make a complete circuit?A. a batteryB. a switchC. an insulatorD. a conductor

Roberto makes an electric circuit that has a switch as one of its parts. The diagram below shows the circuit that he makes.

What would happen to the light bulb if Roberto changes the switch from closed to open?F. It would be duller.G. It would be brighter.H. It would stop glowing.I. It would start glowing.

Sara arranges the parts of a circuit as shown below.

Where should Sara put a piece of wire in order to complete the circuit?

A. between the top of the battery and the top of the paper clipB. between the top of the battery and the bottom of the light bulbC. between the top of the paper clip and the bottom of the batteryD. between the top of the paper clip and the bottom of the light bulb

Philippe needs to choose an item to use to complete a circuit he is making. Which of the following items would be his best choice?

F. metal coinG. glass beadH. plastic strawI. wooden toothpick

Liam wants to determine if foam is a good insulator. He decides to connect wires to two ends of a battery and then connect one wire to each end of a foam cup. Which inquiry skill is Liam using?

A. predictB. hypothesizeC. use modelsD. plan and conduct an investigation


It’s Shocking!


• Electricity cannot move through all materials.

• Insulators are materials that do not allow electricity to flow. Rubber and plastic are examples of insulators.

• Conductors are materials that allow electricity to flow easily. Metals and some liquids are examples of conductors.

Uses of Conductors and Insulators

• Electric devices need electricity to work. Electric cords carry electricity to the devices.

• An electric cord contains metal wire. The wire conducts electricity through the cord.

• Electric cords are wrapped in plastic or rubber. These insulators make the cords safe to handle.Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company

1. What is a conductor?2. What is an insulator?3. What characteristic did most of the

“conductors” share?4. What are 5 places where insulators would

be helpful?5. What are 5 places where conductors would

be helpful?6. On the cord that runs from a lamp to an

outlet, that is the conductor and what is the insulator?

A Path to Follow


• Electricity must flow in a closed loop.

• A path that electric charges can flow through is called a circuit.

• A closed circuit is a complete loop. Electricity can flow through a closed circuit.

• An open circuit is an incomplete path. Electricity cannot flow through an open circuit.

A Path to Follow


• A switch controls the flow of charges by opening and closing the circuit.

• When the switch in a circuit is open, the circuit isn’t complete. Electric charges cannot flow.

• When the switch is closed, electric charges can flow through the circuit.

Who Needs a Map?


• In a series circuit, electric charges can follow only one path.

• If any part of a series circuit breaks, the circuit is open. Electric charges cannot flow.

Who Needs a Map?


• Trace the path electric charges follow in this series circuit. What would happen if one of the lightbulbs burned out?


• In a parallel circuit, electric charges can follow more than one path.

• If any part of a parallel circuit breaks, the charges can still flow along the other parts.

Who Needs a Map?


• Trace the path electric charges follow in this parallel circuit. What would happen if one of the lightbulbs burned out?

Circuit Overload!


• When electric charges flow through conductors, the conductors get hot.

• If too much charge flows, the conductor can overheat and start a fire.

• Circuits in homes and buildings have fuses and circuit breakers to protect against fires.

Circuit Overload!


• Fuses and circuit breakers are switches. They open automatically if too much charge flows through them.

• When they open, they stop charge from flowing through the circuit.

Circuit Overload!


• A circuit can overload if too many devices are plugged into it.

• Each device needs a certain flow of electrical charge, or current. Current is measured in amps (A).

• If too many amps flow through a circuit, the circuit breaker or fuse opens.

The electric circuit below consists of a battery, a switch, and three light bulbs.

What type of circuit is shown in the diagram?

A. closed circuit

B. series circuit

C. magnetic circuit

D. parallel circuit

The plastic coating was stripped off the end of the piece of wire shown below.

Why must the plastic be removed before this wire is used in an electric circuit?

F. so the wire can be bent and fit into the circuit

G. to prevent the circuit from becoming overloaded

H. because the plastic makes the wire too thick to use in a circuit

I. so that electric current can pass between the copper wire and other parts of the circuit

Erica looked at a group of objects and classified them as electrical conductors or insulators. She made the table below to show her results.

How many objects are not classified correctly?

A. 0

B. 1

C. 2

D. 4

Object Classification

glass bead insulator

plastic plate insulator

aluminum foil conductor

silver bracelet conductorwooden craft stick conductor

Some materials do not conduct electric current. Which of these materials is an electrical insulator?

F. CD case

G. paper clip

H. penny

I. staple

Ariel wants to build an electric circuit with a device that can be turned on and off. Which list contains all of the materials she needs for her circuit?

A. wire, ruler, switch, battery

B. string, buzzer, battery, switch

C. buzzer, wire, switch, light bulb

D. battery, wire, light bulb, switch

Learning Goals Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company I will investigate and illustrate the fact that the flow of electricity requires.

Documents

electric circuit

conductor slide

closed circuit

complete circuit

flow of electricity

investigation slide

open circuit

light bulb slide