1.

2 – Current Electricity

• static electricity is not useful since it doesn’t flow

continuously
• electric current is the continuous flow of electrons
• the rate at which electrical current flows is measured in a
unit called Amperes (A)
• conductors allow electrical charge to move
• eg) copper wiring
• small devices (cell phones, iPods etc) use very little current

• large devices (cars, generating stations) use a lot of current

Challenge!
2 conditions must be met for electrical current to flow
continuously

1) There must be an energy source

2) There must be a complete circuit for the particles

to flow through
 Circuits
• a circuit is the continuous path that an electrical current
flows through
• it is made up of:
• 1. conductor – wires
• 2. load – device to convert energy
• Eg. Light bulb
• 3. energy source – battery

https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/circui
t-construction-kit-dc
 Voltage
• voltage or “potential difference”, is a measure of how
much electrical energy each charged particle carries
• the unit of voltage is the volt (V)
• easiest way to measure volts is with a voltmeter

https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/circui
t-construction-kit-dc