Electricity & Magnetism Content from State Frameworks and
Other State Documents
 Electricity
is a general term used to refer to the presence and/or flow of electrical charges.
It is usually associated with the movement or position of those charges.
 Static
electricity is the attractive force between oppositely charged objects due to a buildup
of negative charges. Static electricity is non-moving charges.
A
wet cell or dry cell can be used to produce electricity through a chemical reaction.
A
battery is a series of electrical cells.
 Insulators
are poor conductors and resist charge movement while conductors are poor
insulators and tend to allow charges to easily move.
 Closed
circuits allow current flow while open circuits do not have an unbroken path for
current movement.
A
series circuit contains only one path for electricity to flow, while a parallel circuit
contains more than one path. Parallel circuits are an advantage in that bulbs in parallel will
still work if one of the burns out.
 Magnets
can induce electric current and electric current can produce a magnetic field.
Magnets can be used to make electricity when needed.
 Electricity
can be used to make a magnet when needed.
 Electromagnets
are used in electric motors to transform electrical energy to mechanical
energy.
 Generators
convert mechanical energy to electrical energy.
 Misconception:
Electricity is only moving charges. Proper conception: Electricity describes
the charges that result from the movement or positions of electrical charges.
 Misconception:
Electrical charge results from the movement of positive and negative
charges. Proper Conception: Under normal circumstances, positive charges cannot leave
an atom. Only the negative charges are able to move.
 Misconception:
Electricity moves like water through a pipe. Proper Conception: Water flows
as a result of gravity. Electricity, being negatively charged, moves away from like charged
objects and towards oppositely charged ones. Additionally, the charges require a complete
path to flow.
 Misconception:
A cell is the same as a battery. Proper Conception: A cell is a single unit that
produces electrical current through a chemical reaction. A battery is two or more cells
connected in series or parallel circuits.
Electricity & Magnetism Content from State Frameworks and
Other State Documents
 Misconception:
Batteries store electricity. Proper Conception: A cell or battery may produce
electricity from chemicals contained within. Some contain chemical processes that are
reversible by recharging them.
 Misconception:
Wire must be coiled to produce a magnetic field. Proper Conception: Any
wire carrying an electric current generates a magnetic field. Coiling the wire increases the
field to allow it to be more easily detected.
 Misconception:
Wire must be coiled around and iron core to produce a magnet. Proper
Conception: Coiled wire, or any wire carrying an electric current produces a magnetic field.
Adding an iron core strengthens and focuses the field.
 Misconception:
Batteries have electricity inside them. Proper Conception: Batteries contain
chemicals that undergo reactions to “pump” charges through a conductor. The flow of
charges is the electric current.
Batteries “die” when they run out of electricity. Proper Conception: Batteries
do not contain electricity. They contain chemicals that undergo reactions. When the
chemicals react and the fuel is used up, the battery runs down.
 Misconception:
 Misconception:
Larger batteries have more electricity. Proper Conception: Battery volume
does not necessarily indicate more voltage. However, larger batteries have more chemicals
that can cause the reaction to last longer and produce more current over time.
 Like
charges repel while opposite charges attract.
 Insulators
resist the movement of charges while conductors allow charges to move easily.
 Closed
circuits allow current to flow while open circuits have a broken path preventing the
movement of charges.
 All
matter is composed of positive and negative particles.
 The
movement of the charges created by these particles is what we call an electric current.
 Series
and parallel circuits can be used to control the amount of electric energy produced.
 Electric
forces arise from the presence of an unbalance in electric charge.
 An
electric circuit allows electrons to flow from a negative pole (excess electrons) to a
positive pole (deficient in electrons).
A
 In
circuit is a closed loop through which an electrical current can pass.
a series circuit there is only one path of electricity. In a parallel circuit there is more than
one path of electricity.