Simple Science Experiments: Electricity and Magnets
CONTENTS 5 Notes for helpers 6 What is electricity 7 Electricity in action 8 Using this book 10 Scientist kit ight How can you l two bulbs Find out on page 17 Learn lots about electricity and how it works Experiment time 12 Electric balloons 14 Static patterns 16 Simple electric circuits 18 Conductors and insulators 20 Detecting electricity 22 Battery power 24 Magic magnet 26 Buzz Buzz 28 Magic moving wire 30 Electricity with salt 32 Glossary and Index Which materials let electricity flow through them Find out on page 19 Can a balloon pick up paper Find out on page 12
Notes for HELPERS Help and hazards Help needed All of the experiments are suitable for children to conduct but they will need help and supervision with some This is usually because the experiment requires the use of sharp equipment These experiments are marked with a Help needed symbol Read the instructions together before starting and help to assemble the equipment before supervising the experiment It may be useful to carry out your own risk assessment to avoid any possible hazards before the child begins Check that long hair and any loose clothing are tied back Be careful when handling wire strippers scissors or knives and ensure that wires and nails are stored away safely after use Also try Extra experiments You can also help children with the extra experiments in this book or search the Internet for more similar ideas There are hundreds of science experiment websites to choose from www lovemyscience com This website is packed with simple fun experiments for children to enjoy www sciencebob com experiments index php Engaging science experiments with clearly explained instructions will keep kids busy for hours www sciencefun org kidszone experiments You will find lots of entertaining and informative experiments on this colorful interactive website Publisher’s note to educators and parents Our editors have carefully reviewed these websites to ensure that they are suitable for students Many websites change frequently however and we cannot guarantee that a site’s future contents will continue to meet our high standards of quality and educational value Be advised that students should be closely supervised whenever they access the Internet 5
Moving electron Electric What is ELECTRICITY Electricity is a kind of energy and a major source of power for much of the world It powers many of the machines we use every day Electricity is produced in power stations either by burning coal oil or gas or by using water or nuclear reactors to turn huge turbines Creating a flow Electricity as a power source depends on electrons which are tiny parts of atoms When electrons are pushed they hop from one atom to the next When billions of electrons are pushed electricity flows The push comes from a battery or a power station Electric circuits An electric circuit is an unbroken loop of conducting material along which electricity can flow The three basic parts of an electric circuit are an energy source such as a battery a conductor and an object for the circuit to power such as a light bulb Light bulb Conductor Battery 6 wire Atom Materials Conductors are substances through which electricity can flow Metals such as copper conduct electricity well Insulators are materials such as wood and plastic that do not allow electricity to flow An electric current flows through the copper conductor on the inside of the wire The outer covering is made of a plastic insulator to stop electricity from escaping
Electricity in ACTION Electricity is always at work around us even when we can’t see it This is because all atoms can become electrically charged Usually the balance between an atom’s negatively charged electrons and positively charged center is equal but if the electrons are lost by being pushed the object becomes positively charged If electrons are gained the object becomes negatively charged Static electricity This is the buildup of electric charge on a surface When you rub two materials together electrons move from one object to the other leaving one object positively charged and one negatively charged Attract or repel Objects with opposite charges attract each other and charges that are the same push each other apart repel A negative charge from the cloud meets a positive charge from the ground Magnetic force Electricity is closely linked with magnetism the invisible force between magnetic materials When electricity moves magnetism is created and when magnets move electricity is created Magnets are pieces of metal that can attract magnetic materials such as iron 7 After a balloon is rubbed on hair the hair stands up Each strand has become positively charged so they repel and move apart Lightning spark A lightning flash is a dramatic display of natural electricity During a thunderstorm a negative electrical charge builds up at the base of a cloud while the ground has a positive charge A lightning spark jumps between them to release the charge Around a magnet is a field where its force is felt Field is strongest at the two ends or poles
