Science Notes Year 5

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------UNIT 5: ELECTRICITY
5.1 Sources of Electricity
- Electrical energy which is used every day is supplied by electric power stations or hydroelectric
power.

Other sources of electrical energy are:

(a) Dry cell

Science Notes Year 5

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------(b) Accumulator

(c) Dynamo

Science Notes Year 5

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------(d) Panel of solar cells

5.2 Electrical Circuits

- An electric circuit is the path of an electric current.
- A simple electric consists of:
(a) Dry cell
(b) Bulb
(c) Connecting wires

Science Notes Year 5

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Some of the electric circuit components and their symbols are shown in the below:

The diagram below shows the flow of electric current in a complete circuit.

(A) Series Circuit

- When circuit components like a bulb is connected from end to end or in a row, the circuit is
called a series circuit
- The electric current flows on only one path from the positive terminal to the negative terminal
of an electric source
- In a series circuit, if one part of the circuit is disconnected or the bulb is burnt, the circuit
becomes incomplete and the other bulbs will also be put out.

Series circuit

Science Notes Year 5

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------(B) Parallel Circuit
- In a parallel,, electric components are arranged side by side and parallel to one another
- There is more than one path for the flow of electric current
- In a parallel circuit, if one bulb is spoilt or removed, electric current will still flow through
another path. Other bulbs are still flow through another path. Other bulbs are still light.

Parallel circuit

5.3 The Importance of safety Precautions in the Use of Electricity

- Accidents will occur if the use of electri
electricity
city is not carefully managed such as touching an electric
source with wet hands and using an electrical wire which insulator has come off.
- Some of the safety precautions when using electricity are:
(a) Dont touch electric wires with wet hands
(b) Dont replace broken fuse wire with ordinary wire
(c) Dont use electrical appliances during thunder or lighting
(d) Dont put any object into a socket pole
(e) Dont repair any electrical appliance or electrical circuit yourself
(f) Turn off the main switch before an electric is repai
repaired
(g) Dont connect too many electric plugs to the same power source
(h) Dont use any electric plug that is broken or cracked
(i) Dont play near a power source
(j) Dont use an electric wire which insulator has come off.
-

Some steps to be taken when electric shock occ

occurs are:
(a) Turn off the main switch immediately
(b) Dont touch the victim. Separate the victim from electric source by touch with a dry
insulator
(c) Give first aid to the victim
(d) Send the victim to a clinic or hospital immediately

Science Notes Year 5

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------