Grade 8/9 Science Study Guide
Unit 3: Electricity
Key Terms
Static Electricity
Positive charge
Potential energy
Electric potential energy
Battery
Electric current
Resistor
Opened switch
Electrical resistance
Series circuit
Circuit Breaker
Joule
Electrical generator
Current Electricity
Negative charge
Electric potential difference
Volt
Electrode
Ampere
Ammeter
Closed switch
Ohm
Parallel circuit
Grounding Terminals
Watt
Transformer
Neutral
Electric discharge
Coulomb
Electrochemical cell
Electrolyte
Conductor
Voltmeter
Circuit diagram symbols
Ohm’s Law
Fuse
Electrical energy
EnerGuide
1. How are objects charged and how can the charge on objects change?
2. What are the 3 laws of electric charge?
3. Identify 3 pieces of technology that have resulted from our knowledge of static electricity.
How do they use static electricity to work?
4. Identify 3 careers related to electricity and 3 reasons why electricity is an important part of our
everyday lives
5. How does an electrochemical cell produce an electric charge?
6. List and describe the 4 parts of an electric circuit and how they work together to form a circuit.
7. List and describe the 4 factors that affect resistance in a circuit.
8. Your electrician has decided to set up your outdoor Christmas lights on a series circuit, similar
to the set of lights below. Answer the following questions:
A) Describe the amount of current that is passing through points A, B and C if there is no
resistor added to the circuit
B) How does adding a resistor affect the current of the entire circuit?
C) How does removing load B affect loads A and C?
D) Lets say that the circuit could handle approximately 12V. Describe how each load
may share the voltage.
9. Your houses are wired in parallel similar to the following diagram. Answer the following:
A) Describe the amount of voltage each load has.
B) How will the current change if we put different resistors on each load?
C) How is the circuit affected if we remove one of the loads?
10. What 3 factors affect the cost of electrical energy? Explain each.
11. What is an EnerGuide label and what are some of the regulations associated with them in
Canada?
12. List and describe the 3 types of electrical generating stations.
13. How is electrical energy transmitted?
14. List and describe 3 alternate sources of electrical energy.
15. What factors could influence the development of alternate energy sources?
16. Using the diagram shown below, explain what happens to Object A and B after they are
rubbed together. Be sure to indicate the objects current charges and charges after rubbing. (Note:
Object B has a strong attraction for electrons)
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Object A (fur)
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Object B (vinyl)
* The practice worksheet calculating power, energy consumption, Ohm’s Law, efficiency and
cost to consumers is also for your test.