Science – Electricity & Magnetism Study Guide
Name_________________________
Know these definitions:
1. electromagnet- A temporary magnet made up of wire wrapped
around a core.
2. conductor- An object that allows electricity to flow.
3. insulator- An object that does not conduct electricity.
4. resistance-The measure of how much a material opposes the flow
of currect.
5. parallel circuit-A circuit that has two or more paths that electricity
can follow.
6. static electricity-The buildup of charges on an object.
7. series circuit- A circuit that has only one path that electricity can
follow.
8. electric field-The space in which an electric force acts.
9. What is a property of matter that causes objects to attract or repel
each other? Electric charge
10. What is a characteristic of most electric conductors? Negative
charges move easily through them.
11. What are some characteristics of an electromagnet? It is made by
wrapping current-carrying wire around an iron core.
12. Which materials make good insulators of electricity? plastics
13. If a burned-out bulb causes all of the lights to fail in a circuit, what
might you conclude? It is a series circuit.
14. How does a compass react when it is near an electromagnet? The
compass needle turns.
15. A student added another light to an electrical circuit and all the
lights became dimmer. What is most likely the cause of the dimmer
lights? The circuit is a series circuit.