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WHAT ARE ELECTRICITY & CIRCUITS?
Electricity is the flow of electrical energy, and a circuit is the path that allows the electricity to flow. Electrical circuits can contain different components, which can be used to regulate the flow of electrical energy.
To better understand electricity & circuits…
WHAT ARE ELECTRICITY & CIRCUITS?.
Electricity is the flow of electrical energy, and a circuit is the path that allows the electricity to flow. Electrical circuits can contain different components, which can be used to regulate the flow of electrical energy.
To better understand electricity & circuits…
LET’S BREAK IT DOWN!
Electricity requires a closed path to flow.
Current electricity is the form of electricity that makes all of our electronic devices possible. This form of electricity exists when charges are able to constantly flow. To flow, current electricity requires a circuit—a closed, never-ending loop of conductive material. A circuit could be as simple as a conductive wire connected end-to-end, but useful circuits usually contain a mix of wire and other components that control the flow of electricity. The only rule when it comes to making circuits is that they can't have any gaps in them.
Electricity requires a closed path to flow. Current electricity is the form of electricity that makes all of our electronic devices possible. This form of electricity exists when charges are able to constantly flow. To flow, current electricity requires a circuit—a closed, never-ending loop of conductive material. A circuit could be as simple as a conductive wire connected end-to-end, but useful circuits usually contain a mix of wire and other components that control the flow of electricity. The only rule when it comes to making circuits is that they can't have any gaps in them.
Conductive materials are needed for electrical energy to flow.
Only certain materials allow electrical energy to flow. These materials are called conductors. Metals tend to be good electrical conductors, but electricity can flow through water or a solution with dissolved salts—like your body or a pickle! Materials that do not conduct electricity are called insulators. Examples of insulators are wood, rubber, plastic, ceramics, and glass. Different combinations of conductors and insulators can be used to control the flow of electricity. For example, wires in our electronic devices are usually copper wire wrapped in a plastic coating. The copper wire conducts electricity, and the plastic coating prevents the electrical energy from being transferred to another conductor.