Three things are needed for
an electrical current to flow:
A power supply. In the pictures
above it is the cell. (In Physics what you
call a battery at home should be called a cell. Two or more
cells linked together
are called a battery).
Wires – these allow
electrical charge to pass through
Something that can convert
electrical energy. In the diagrams below the bulb
is converting electrical energy into heat and light energy
A complete circuit is needed for electricity
to flow. Electricity is a flow of electrons.
Electricity can flow through conductors but not through insulators.
Electrical charge flows around a complete circuit. This flow
of electrical charge is called the current.
Metals are good conductors of electricity. Plastic does not
conduct electicity and is used to cover the wires used in electrical
circuits.
In this cicuit electricity can flow as there
is a power source (the cell), wires and a bulb which converts
electrical energy into heat and light energy.
This
is not a complete circuit and electricity cannot flow.
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2005 drparry.co.uk. All Rights Reserved.
In this cicuit electricity can flow as there
is a power source (the cell), wires and a bulb which converts
electrical energy into heat and light energy.
This
is not a complete circuit and electricity cannot flow.