ELECTRICITY

Electrostatics
1.
Electrostatics is study of static electric charges.
2.
Each atom has negatively charged electrons that orbit round a nucleus.
3.
A nucleus is made up of :a) positively charged particles called protons.
b) neutral particles called neutrons.
4.
Charge cannot be created or destroyed during friction.
5.
When charging two objects by friction, some electrons from surface atoms of one object are
transferred to the other object.
6.
The force between two charged objects brought close together is called electrostatic force. Like
charges always repel each other and unlike charges always attract each other.
7.
Electroscope is a device used to detect charges and test the kind of charge.
8.
In an uncharged electroscope, the gold leaf is close to the brass plate. It is said to be in a
collapsed state.
9.
The brass cap, brass rod, brass plate and gold leaf are electrically neutral. It means there is
no excess charge.
10.
Everyday phenomena related to static electrical charges are :a) Spray painting.
b) Lightning.
c) Fires and explosions.
d) Combing hair on a dry day.

Electricity
1.
2.

Electricity is a form of energy that can be changed to many other forms. It is used in electrical
appliances such as computers, radios and electric fans.
Sources of electricity for use in everyday life are :a) Electric cells
b) Generators
c) Solar cells

Current
1.
Electric charges are made up of :a) positive charges such as protons and positive ions.
b) negative charges such as electrons and negative ions.
2.
When electric charges flow, they produce current.
3.
Current is the rate of flow of electric charges.
Van de Graaff Generator
1.
The flow of electric current is shown using Van de Graaff generator. It is a high voltage
electrostatic generator which is able to produce potential difference of millions of volts.
2.
It is used to create static electricity used for experimentation.
Voltage
1.
Is the electrical force needed to move electric charges from one point to another in a conductor.
Resistance
1.
Is the measure of how much an electrical component restricts current flow.

Measuring Electricity
Ammeters
1.
An ammeter is the device used to measure electric currents.
2.
Has to be connected in series with other electrical components in circuit.
3.
The SI unit for electric current is ampere (A).
Voltmeters
1.
A voltmeter is the device used to measure the voltage across an electrical component.
2.
Has to be connected in parallel across the other electrical components in circuit.
3.
The SI unit for voltage is volt (V).
Relationship between Current and Resistance
1.
Resistors are electrical component used to reduce the current flow in circuit.
2.
A fixed resistor has a resistance that cannot be changed.
3.
A variable resistor, or rheostat has a resistance that can be changed.
4.
The larger the resistance, the smaller the current flowing through the circuit.
Ohms Law
1.
Current flowing through a circuit dependent on voltage and resistance in the circuit.
2.
Ohms Law states that current flowing through a conductor is directly proportional to its
voltage.
Resistance (R) = Voltage (V)
Current (I)

Electric Circuits
1.
2.
3.

An electric circuit is the path where electrical charges flow.

Current will only flow through a complete circuit. A complete circuit is a circuit that has no
gaps.
There are two main types of electric circuits :a) series circuit
b) parallel circuit

Series Circuits
1.
A series circuit connects an electrical source with its components, one after another, in a
single loop.
2.
Current flowing through each component is the same throughout the circuit.
3.
A disadvantage of this circuit is that if there is a break in any part of the circuit, current flow
throughout the whole circuit is cut off.
4.
Light bulbs connected in series are less bright than those connected in parallel.
5.
The current at every point in a series circuit is the same.
6.
As more resistors are added to the circuit, resistance will increase.
Parallel Circuits
1.
In a parallel circuit, the current source is split into two or more branches.
2.
Current flowing through each branch in the parallel circuit may be the same or different.
3.
The current entering any junction in the circuit is equals to the current leaving that junction.
4.
Light bulbs connected in parallel circuits are brighter that those connected in series circuits.
5.
If one bulb is disconnected, other bulbs can still light up because current can still flow through
the other paths.
6.
The current from the source is the sum of the currents in the separate branches.
7.
As more resistors are added to the circuit, total resistance will decrease.

Magnetism
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.

12.

A magnet is an object that has ability to attract magnetic materials such as iron, cobalt and
nickel.
A bar magnet has two ends called magnetic poles. They are north pole and south pole.
A compass has a magnetised needle hanging freely inside it.
A magnetic field is the region around a magnet in which magnetic forces act.
The magnetic force of a magnet is strongest at its poles.
A magnetic field consists of magnetic field lines.
Magnetic field lines differ according to the arrangement of bar magnets.
The magnetic field lines begin from the north pole and end at south pole.
When current passes through a wire, a magnetic field is produced around the wire. This
magnetic effect is called electromagnetism.
An electromagnet is a magnet produced by the flow of electric current.
The strength of an electromagnet can be increased by :a) increasing the number of turns of the coil.
b) increasing the amount of current flowing through the coil.
c) inserting a soft iron core into the coil.
Electromagnets are used in many devices such as electric bells, microphones, telephones,
loudspeakers, in cranes at dockyards, steelworks and in hospitals to remove iron or steel
splinters from our body.