Using the web sites provided, answer the following questions. This web quest should broaden your knowledge
and understanding of the basics of electricity and series and parallel circuits.
Basics of Electricity
http://www.ndt-ed.org/EducationResources/HighSchool/Electricity/electricalcurrent.htm
1. The movement of electrons between atoms is called an ___________________________.
2. The energy produced as a result of this flow of electrons from atom to atom is called
________________________________.
http://www.ndt-ed.org/EducationResources/HighSchool/Electricity/amperage.htm
3. What unit measures the flow of electrons? ___________________________________
4. How is an amp defined?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
5. What is a coulomb? _______________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
6. Name the instrument used to measure the amount of amps flowing in an electrical circuit.
________________________________________________________________________
http://www.ndt-ed.org/EducationResources/HighSchool/Electricity/voltage.htm
7. What is the force that causes electrons to move in an electrical circuit?
________________________________________________________________________
8. Name 3 sources of EMF.
________________________________________________________________________
9. What happens to the electron flow within a conductor if the EMF or voltage source is
removed? _______________________________________________________________
10. What unit used to measure EMF? ___________________________
11. What is a volt?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
http://www.ndt-ed.org/EducationResources/HighSchool/Electricity/resistance.htm
12. What is resistance?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
13. In what units is resistance measured? _____________________________
14. State one example when resistance is desirable.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
15. State one example when resistance is undesirable.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
16. What components are placed in an electrical circuit to control the amount of resistance in circuit?
_____________________________________
http://www.ndt-ed.org/EducationResources/HighSchool/Electricity/ohmslaw.htm
17. a. State Ohm’s Law in a mathematical equation. __________________________________
b. What do the following variables represent?
I = ____________________________
V = ____________________________
R =
___________________________
V
I
R
18. Using the equation, I = V / R, describe the following:
a. If the voltage is increased what will happen to the current? _______________________
b. If the resistance is increased what will happen to the current? _____________________
19. Using the second equation, V = I • R, describe the following:
a. If either the current or the resistance is increased in the circuit, what will happen to the
voltage? __________________________
20. Using the third equation, R = V / I, describe the following:
a. If the voltage is increased what will happen to the resistance? _____________________
b. If the current is increased what will happen to the resistance? ______________________
21. What is the symbol of an ohm? ___________________
http://www.ndt-ed.org/EducationResources/HighSchool/Electricity/seriesparallelcircuits.htm
22. How is a circuit formed?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
23. Explain the relationship of potential and kinetic energy to electricity.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
http://www.ndt-ed.org/EducationResources/HighSchool/Electricity/circuitdiagrams.htm
Below is a circuit diagram, list what each part of the diagram represents. Answers are placed on the spaces
below.
24.
=
__________________________
25.
= __________________________
26.
=
27.
= ___________________________
28.
= ___________________________
___________________________
29. Describe the battery’s positive terminal. ______________________________________
30. Describe the battery’s negative terminal. ______________________________________
Other useful symbols used in electrical circuit diagrams:
31.
32.
= _______________________________
A capacitor is used to store electrical charge. An example would be a timer.
=________________________________
http://www.ndt-ed.org/EducationResources/HighSchool/Electricity/seriescircuit.htm
33. Build the series circuit at this web site.
34. Describe a series circuit.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
35. What is a load in a circuit?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
36. What is a short circuit?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
37. What is used in an electrical circuit to prevent a short circuit?
________________________________________________________________________
38. Build the series circuit with resistors at this web site.
http://www.ndt-ed.org/EducationResources/HighSchool/Electricity/parallelcircuit.htm
39. Build the parallel circuit at this web site.
40. Describe a parallel circuit.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
41. Build the parallel circuit with a voltmeter at this web site.
42. How is the ammeter always placed in a circuit? __________________________________
43. How is the voltmeter always placed in a circuit? _________________________________
http://www.ndt-ed.org/EducationResources/HighSchool/Electricity/seriesparallel.htm
. Build the series / parallel circuit at this web site.
44. List the components that are connected in series from the circuit you just constructed.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
45. List the components that are in parallel from the circuit you just constructed.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
http://www.ndt-ed.org/EducationResources/HighSchool/Electricity/directcurrent.htm
46. What does DC mean in terms of electrical current?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
47. What do we use every day in our electronic devices that is a good source of direct current?
________________________________________________________________________
http://www.ndt-ed.org/EducationResources/HighSchool/Electricity/alternatingcurrent.htm
48. What does AC mean in terms of electrical current?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
49. How often is the current alternating directions?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________