Technology Unit 1.

Electric circuits
2nd ESO

1. ELECTRIC CIRCUITS
1.1. Electricity
Everything around us is made of atoms.
In the middle of each atom is a "nucleus." The nucleus contains two kinds of tiny
particles, called protons (with positive charge) and neutrons (no charge). Orbiting
around the nucleus are even smaller particles called electrons (with negative charge).
When the number of protons in an atom equals the number of electrons, the atom is
neutral.

An atom that loses electrons is positively charged. An atom that gains electrons has a
negative charge.

The protons and neutrons in the nucleus are held together very tightly. Normally the
nucleus does not change. But some of the outer electrons are held very loosely. They
can move from one atom to another.

Electrons can flow from one atom to another producing electric current.

___________________________ACTIVITIES__________________________
1. Make a list of all the objects that use electricity that you have used today.

2. Look for a representation of an atom and label it with electrons, protons,

nucleus, neutrons.

3. Make activities 2 to 6 in the following link

http://www.xtec.cat/monografics/cirel/pla_le/nottingham/belen_gallego/hand
out.pdf

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Technology Unit 1. Electric circuits
2nd ESO

1.2. Electric circuits

An electric circuit consists of a complete closed path (or paths) for electric current.

The basic components of an electric circuit are generator, receiver and conductor. Circuits also
may have control and protection devices.

Generator
A generator is the element that gives electrons energy to flow through a circuit. Current
provided by generators can be of two types:

Direct current, DC: flow of electrons always takes place in the same direction. This type of
current is provided by cells, batteries, solar cells and dynamos.

Alternating current, AC: flow of electrons changes direction several times per second
(frequency). This type of current is provided by alternators.

Circuit Symbol Component Function of Component

Cell Supplies electrical energy. The larger terminal

pila is positive (+).

Battery A battery is more than one cell connected

bateria together. Batteries can be recharged.

Supplies electrical energy.

DC = Direct Current, always flowing in one
Generator G direction.
Generador AC = Alternating Current, continually changing
direction.

___________________________ACTIVITIES__________________________
4. Look for images of different types of generators: alternator, dynamo, battery,
alkaline cell, solar cell.
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Technology Unit 1. Electric circuits
2nd ESO

Receivers
Receivers are elements that transform electrical energy into another kind of energy. Examples
are light bulbs, buzzers, motors and heaters.

Circuit Symbol Component Function of Component

Bulb It changes electric energy into

Bombeta light.

Buzzer It changes electric energy into

Brunzidor sound.

Motor It changes electric energy into

Motor M movement.

Conductor
Is the means that transports electrons from generator to receiver and from receiver to
generator. Example: wires.

Circuit Symbol Component Function of Component

Wire To pass current very easily from

cable one part of a circuit to another.

Control devices (switches)

They are used to control the receivers connected to the circuit.

Circuit Symbol Component Function of Component

An on-off switch allows current
switch
to flow only when it is in the
Interruptor
closed (on) position.
directs the flow of current to
two way switch
one of two routes according to
Commutador
its position.

Intermediate switch switch internally wired for

Creuament polarity-reversal applications
allows current to flow only
Push switch when the button is pressed.
Polsador This is the switch used to
operate a doorbell.

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Technology Unit 1. Electric circuits
2nd ESO

This type of push switch is

Push to break switch
normally closed (on), it is open
Polsador Normalment
(off) only when the button is
tancat
pressed.

Protection devices (fuses)

Circuit Symbol Component Function of Component

A safety device which will
'blow' (melt) if the current
Fuse
flowing through it exceeds a
specified value.

___________________________ACTIVITIES__________________________
5. Draw the following circuits using the normalised symbols
a. Cell, light bulb, switch (toilet)
b. Cell, buzzer, push switch (hall)
c. Cell, motor, switch (fan)
d. Cell, 2 light bulbs, switch (kitchen)
e. Cell, light bulb, 2 Two way switch (bed room)
f. Cell, light bulb, 2 Two way switch, 1 intermediate switch (corridor)
g. Cell, light bulb, push to break switch (fridge)
h. Cell, motor, 1 four way switch (motor inverter)

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Technology Unit 1. Electric circuits
2nd ESO

6. Identify the following symbols:

7. Follow this link and build the circuits in 1, 2 and 3, Then solve the test in
“avalua’t”
http://www.edu365.com/eso/muds/tecnologia/circuits2/index.htm

8. Following this link you can make revision. Read “Activitats d’aprenentatge”, and
solve “Activitats d’avaluació” from “mòdul 1” and “mòdul 2”.
http://www.edu365.cat/eso/muds/tecnologia/ielectriques/a1/a10.htm

_____________________________________________________________________

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Technology Unit 1. Electric circuits
2nd ESO

1.3. Electrical magnitudes

Voltage or tension (V)
Voltage is the energy used by a generator to move electrons through a circuit. Is the
energy difference between the two leads of a generator.
The SI unit for measuring voltage is the volt (V).
A voltmeter can be used to measure the voltage (or potential difference) between two
points in a circuit.

Current (I)
An electric current is a flow of electrons in a circuit. It can be defined as the amount of
electrons flowing through a conductor per unit of time.
The SI unit for measuring an electric current is the ampere (A). Very often we use
submultiples like the mA and μA.
Electric current is measured using a device called an ammeter.

Resistance (R)
Resistance is the opposition a material offers to the flow of electric current through it.
The SI unit for measuring an electric resistance is the ohm (Ω).
The resistance of a wire depends on three factors: material, width and length.

Power (P)
Power is the capacity to produce work per unit of time.
The SI unit for measuring power is the watt (W). P  I·V

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Technology Unit 1. Electric circuits
2nd ESO

___________________________ACTIVITIES__________________________
9. Get the power of a heater connected to 220 V tension, if the current is 10 A.

10. How much current passes through a 100 W bulb working with 220 V tension?

11. Find the equivalent value

1.200 kW are... 0,5 V are... 3.200 Ω are... 300 mA are...

a) 1,2 MW a) 5.000 mV a) 3,2 MV a) 0,3 nA
b) 1,2 W b) 500 kV b) 32 nΩ b) 0,300 μA
c) 1.200.000 mW c) 500 mV c) 3,2 kΩ c) 0,3 A
0,4 mV are... 6.000 mA are... 1.200 kΩ are... 1,2 mA are...
a) 4.000 V a) 6 A a) 1.200 mΩ a) 1.200 A
b) 4 V b) 600.000 A b) 1,2 MΩ b) 1.200 nA
c) 400 μV c) 6 nA c)1.200.000.000 Ω c) 1.200 μA

Mega   Kilo 
x1000
 Unit 
x1000
 mili 
x1000
 micro 
x1000
 nano
x1000

12. Complete the text:

conductors electricity insulate insulators metals

Electricity flows more easily through particular materials like (1) _______________
(copper, aluminium and steel), which are called (2) _______________ . The resistance
measures how well they can conduct (3) _______________ . A low resistance means
high conductivity and vice versa. Some things hold their electrons very tightly, so
electricity does not move through them very well. For example, rubber, plastic, cloth,
glass and dry air are called (4) _______________ and have a very high resistance.

We can safely handle electric wires because, even if they are made of copper, they are
covered by a protective plastic sleeve to (5) _______________ them.

____________________________________________________________

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Technology Unit 1. Electric circuits
2nd ESO

5.4. Ohm’s law

The basic magnitudes of electricity are related by means of the following formula.

V V
R It also can be expressed as I  and V  I·R
I R

This relationship is known as Ohm’s Law.

___________________________ACTIVITIES__________________________
13. Solve the excercises about Ohm’s law and power.:
1. La diferència de potencial entre els extrems d’una làmpada és de 20 V. La seva resistència és
de 100 Ω. Quin serà el corrent que la travessa?

2. Per un motor elèctric hi circula un corrent de 4 A. Sabent que la seva resistència és de 50 Ω,

quina serà la tensió que alimenta el circuit? Quina serà la potència consumida?

3. Volem protegir mitjançant un fusible un circuit alimentat a 20 V, la resistència equivalent del

qual és de 12 kΩ. De quants amperes haurà de ser el fusible?

4. Es connecta a una alimentació de 10 V un circuit de resistència igual a 100 mΩ. Quina serà la
intensitat que circularà pel circuit? I la potència consumida?

5. Una bateria proporciona una diferència de potencial de 24 V. En connectar-la a un circuit, hi

circula un corrent de 200 mA. Quina resistència oposa el circuit?

6. Tenim un endoll que està preparat per suportar, com a màxim, aparells d’una potència de
3600 W. Sabent que s’alimenten a una tensió de 240 V, a quina intensitat haurà de tallar
l’interruptor el circuit per evitar accidents?

____________________________________________________________

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Technology Unit 1. Electric circuits
2nd ESO

1.5. Series circuits and parallel circuits

Series circuits

A "series" circuit has only one path for the electricity to follow.

In in series circuit, the resistors are wired one after another. Since they are all part of the SAME
LOOP they each experience the SAME AMOUNT of current.

I ( series )Total  I 1  I 2  I 3
V( series )Total  V1  V2  V3

Parallel circuits

A "parallel" circuit has two or more paths for the electricity.

All the bulbs are connected to the terminals of the battery so the voltage is the same for all of
them. The current splits in the different loops.

I ( parallel)Total  I1  I 2  I 3
V( parallel)Total  V1  V2  V3

___________________________ACTIVITIES__________________________
14. Choose true or False
15. T F

1 In a series circuit there is more than one path for the electricity to flow through. □ □
2 In a parallel circuit the current can flow through more than one route. □ □
3 Bulbs connected in paraller are brighter than if they on their own □ □
4 In a parallel circuit the current splits up and goes through all possible routes. □ □
5 Bulbs connected in series are dimmer than one bulb on its own □ □

____________________________________________________________

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Technology Unit 1. Electric circuits
2nd ESO

1.6. Measurement of current, voltage and resistance

Measurement of current. Ammeters

Ammeters are used to measure the flow of current in a circuit.

They must be connected in series with the circuit components.

In this way the current flowing in the circuit also flows through
the ammeter, and therefore can be measured.

The black lead is connected to the COM terminal and the red
lead to the 2A terminal.

The selector has to be in the Ammeter scale (A), ACA if we

measure Alternating Current, or DCA if we measure Direct
Current.

Measurement of voltage. Voltmeters

Voltmeters must be connected in parallel with the circuit

components.

They are connected this way because their job is to measure

the voltage across a component.

The black lead is connected to the COM terminal and the

red lead to the V/Ω terminal.

The selector has to be in the Voltmeter scale (V) ACV if we

measure Alternating Current, or DCV if we measure Direct
Current.

___________________________ACTIVITIES__________________________

15. Circle the right answer:

If we want to check the tension of a 9V battery, what scale must we choose in the
multimeter?

ACV (200mV 2V 20V 200V 2000V) or DCV (200mV 2V 20V 200V 2000V)

If we want to check the tension of a 220V socket, what scale must we choose in the
multimeter?

ACV (200mV 2V 20V 200V 2000V) or DCV (200mV 2V 20V 200V 2000V)

____________________________________________________________

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 Technology Unit 1. Electric circuits
2nd ESO

Measurement of resistance. Ohmmeters

In order to measure resistance, the power must be off.

The black lead is connected to the COM terminal and the red probe to the V/Ω terminal.

The selector has to be in the Ohmmeter scale (Ω). We have to avoid touching the metallic tips
of the leads with the fingers. Otherwise we will measure our own resistance.

Power switch

DCV
DCA
Function switch
)
) ACV )

ACA
)

Measuring terminal (V,Ω)

)

Measuring terminal (A,mA, μA) Common terminal )

) )

1. Completa el text següent amb algunes de les paraules del requadre:

L’aparell que ens permet mesurar les diferents magnituds elèctriques s’anomena
______________. Si el que volem és mesurar intensitat, en un circuit amb corrent
_________, hem de fer girar el __________ fins a la zona marcada amb ACA. També hem
connectar el cable ___________ a l’orifici on hi diu COM, i el cable ___________ a l’orifici
on hi ha escrit A. Finalment haurem de connectar l’aparell en ____________.

Paral·lel, vermell, amperímetre, selector, pantalla digital, negre, sèrie, altern, multímetre

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Technology Unit 1. Electric circuits
2nd ESO

1.7. Effects of electric current

Joule effect
Joule effect is the process by which the passage of an electric current through a
conductor releases heat. The amount of heat released is proportional to the square of the
current.

Q  I 2 ·R·t
Heaters, toasters, electric ovens, electric irons and even light bulbs work with this effect.

Electromagnetic effect.
Electric current passing through a wire generates a magnetic field around the wire.
This effect is used in all sorts of ways. Examples include electric motors and electromagnets. In
a car, for example, the central locking uses electromagnets called solenoids to operate the lock
mechanism.
Another widespread example is the loudspeaker, where variations in the magnetic effect of an
electric current are translated into sound waves that we can hear.

Chemical effect.
Passing an electric current through a liquid causes chemical changes in a process called
electrolysis.
Electroplating uses electrolysis to put a layer of one metal on top of another. Examples include
chromium plating of bathroom and car parts, and silver plating of cutlery and jewellery.

http://www.edu365.com/eso/muds/tecnologia/electroimant/index.htm#

http://recursostic.educacion.es/secundaria/edad/3esofisicaquimica/3quincena11/3q11_index.
htm

https://sites.google.com/site/tecnologiacalamot/2n-eso/tema-1-electricitat

http://www.xtec.cat/monografics/cirel/pla_le/nottingham/belen_gallego/handout.pdf

http://quizlet.com/31599672/circuit-components-flash-cards/

http://www.elionline.com/res/ftpeli/resources/changeup/CLIL/CLIL/Electricity.pdf

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