Electricity and Circuits - Guided Notes

Name: ____________________________________________________________ Date: ____________________________________

Electricity and Circuits Guided Notes

What are Atoms?
● Matter is made up of tiny particles called ___________________ .
● Atoms are made up of three smaller particles:
○ ___________________
○ ___________________
○ ___________________
● Protons have a ___________________ charge.
● Neutrons have no charge. They are ___________________ .
● ___________________ have a negative charge.
What is Electrical Energy?
● So why all this talk about matter and atoms?
● Well, ___________________ is a type of energy that results from the
___________________ of electrons.
Types of Electricity
● There are two types of electricity:
○ ___________________
○ ___________________
What is Static Electricity?
● Static electricity is electrical energy that results from a difference in
___________________ and ___________________ charges.
○ The same charges ___________________ each other.
○ Opposite charges ___________________ each other.
● You might have experienced electricity when rubbing a balloon on your hair.
● The ___________________ charges between the balloon and your hair cause them to
___________________ each other.

SCIENCE
Electricity and Circuits - Guided Notes

Name: ____________________________________________________________ Date: ____________________________________

What is Current Electricity?

● Current electricity is electrical energy that results from the ___________________ from
one place to another in ___________________ .
● Any time you plug in a device into an electrical outlet, such as a lamp, you are
observing an _________________________________ !
Electrical Conductors and Insulators
Some materials conduct, or transfer, electrons better than others.
● ___________________ are materials that allow electrons to flow easily.
● ___________________ are materials that do not allow electrons to flow easily.
Examples of Electrical Conductors
● ___________________ are the best conductors. This is because their electrons can
move ___________________ , which transfers energy faster.
● ___________________ , ___________________ , ___________________ , ___________________ ,
and ___________________ are examples of conductors.
● Example:
○ Copper is used in ___________________ to connect and power devices.
Examples of Electrical Insulators
● Materials that are insulators include ___________________ , ___________________ ,
___________________ , ___________________ , and ___________________ .
● Example:
○ Plastic or rubber is used to ___________________ the copper electrical wires to
protects us from getting shocked.
What are Circuits?
Circuits are a ___________________ through which an electrical current can flow.
● A circuit has three main parts:
○ ___________________
○ ___________________
○ ___________________
SCIENCE
Electricity and Circuits - Guided Notes

Name: ____________________________________________________________ Date: ____________________________________

● The ___________________ is the object through which the current flows, such as a
___________________ .
● The ___________________ powers the circuit, such as a ___________________ or a plug.
● The ___________________ is the objects being powered, such as a
___________________ .
● Most times, a circuit has a ___________________ , which can complete the circuit.

● If a switch is ___________________ , the path is ___________________ and electricity

cannot flow. The load will not turn on.
● If the switch is ___________________ , the path is ___________________ and electricity
can flow and power the load.

SCIENCE
Electricity and Circuits - Guided Notes

Name: ____________________________________________________________ Date: ____________________________________

Electricity and Circuits Guided Notes

Answer Key
What are Atoms?
● Matter is made up of tiny particles called atoms.
● Atoms are made up of three smaller particles:
○ Protons
○ Neutrons
○ Electrons
● Protons have a positive charge.
● Neutrons have no charge. They are neutral.
● Electrons have a negative charge.
What is Electrical Energy?
● So why all this talk about matter and atoms?
● Well, electrical energy is a type of energy that results from the movement of
electrons.
Types of Electricity
● There are two types of electricity:
○ Static electricity
○ Current electricity
What is Static Electricity?
● Static electricity is electrical energy that results from a difference in positive and
negative charges.
○ The same charges repel each other.
○ Opposite charges attract each other.
● You might have experienced electricity when rubbing a balloon on your hair.
● The opposite charges between the balloon and your hair cause them to attract each
other.

SCIENCE
Electricity and Circuits - Guided Notes

Name: ____________________________________________________________ Date: ____________________________________

What is Current Electricity?

● Current electricity is electrical energy that results from the flow of electrons from one
place to another in one direction.
● Any time you plug in a device into an electrical outlet, such as a lamp, you are
observing an electrical current!
Electrical Conductors and Insulators
Some materials conduct, or transfer, electrons better than others.
● Conductors are materials that allow electrons to flow easily.
● Insulators are materials that do not allow electrons to flow easily.
Examples of Electrical Conductors
● Metals are the best conductors. This is because their electrons can move freely, which
transfers energy faster.
● Steel, silver, gold, copper, and seawater are examples of conductors.
● Example:
○ Copper is used in electrical wires to connect and power devices.
Examples of Electrical Insulators
● Materials that are insulators include plastic, wood, glass, rubber, and oil.
● Example:
○ Plastic or rubber is used to cover the copper electrical wires to protects us from
getting shocked.
What are Circuits?
Circuits are a closed path through which an electrical current can flow.
● A circuit has three main parts:
○ A path
○ An energy source
○ A load

SCIENCE
Electricity and Circuits - Guided Notes

Name: ____________________________________________________________ Date: ____________________________________

● The path is the object through which the current flows, such as a wire.
● The energy source powers the circuit, such as a battery or a plug.
● The load is the objects being powered, such as a light bulb.
● Most times, a circuit has a switch, which can complete the circuit.
● If a switch is off, the path is incomplete and electricity cannot flow. The load will not
turn on.
● If the switch is on, the path is complete and electricity can flow and power the load.

SCIENCE