I.

Building Vocabulary
Match the words on the left with their definitions on the right.
1. attract a. a strong metal that can be formed
2. back and forth b. pull toward an object
3. balanced c. to turn around something very quickly
4. carbon d. a chemical material that is in coal or petrol. It is in its purest form in diamonds
5. charge e. a soft red and brown metal that lets electricity and heat pass through easily
6. copper f. cable
7. cord g. a person who is trained in science
8. current h. a round metal container that you use for cooking
9. flow i. fluid, watery object
10. in place j. to move
11. liquid k. the electricity that is put into an object like a battery to give it power
12. pan l. the same as stable
13. particle m. to go in one direction and then in the other
14. pass through n. a flow of electricity through a piece of metal
15. plug in o. where they are
16. safety p. a very small part of an atom
17. scientist q. security; protection
18. socket r. a place in a wall where you can connect an electrical object to the main supply of
electricity
19. spin s. Connect an electrical object to the electricity supply of a house
20. steel t. go through

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What is electricity?
Everything is made up of atoms. Each one of them has three particles: protons, neutrons and electrons.
Electrons spin around the centre of an atom. They have a negative charge. Protons, which are in the centre of
atoms, have a positive charge. Normally, an atom has as many protons as it has electrons. It is stable or balanced.
Carbon, for example has six protons and six electrons. Scientists can make electrons travel from one atom to
another. An atom that loses electrons is positively charged, an atom that gets more electrons is negatively charged.
Electricity is created when electrons move between atoms. Positive atoms look for free negative electrons and
attract them, so that they can be balanced.
Conductors and Insulators
Electricity can pass through some objects better than through others. Conductors are materials through
which electrons can travel more freely. Copper, aluminum, steel and other metals are good conductors. So are
some liquids like salt-water. Insulators are materials in which electrons cannot move around. They stay in place.
Glass, rubber, plastic or dry wood are good insulators. They are important for your safety, because without them,
you couldnt touch a hot pan or plug in a TV set. A toaster has a rubber cord connected to it. You can plug it into
the socket and you wont get hurt.
Electric Current
When electrons move through a conductor an electric current is created. A current that always flows in one
direction is called a direct current (DC). A battery for example, produces a direct current. A current that flows back
and forth is called an alternating current (AC).

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 II. Building Vocabulary
Match the words on the left with their definitions on the right.

1. keep a. a small area that is higher than the rest

2. wiring b. the electricity that is put into an object ,like a battery, to give it power
3. switch c. the complete circle that an electric current travels
4. wire d. join
5. source e. change
6. paste f. join a flow of electricity through a piece of metal
7. resistance g. machine or a tool that does something special
8. liquid h. when you rub something against something else it gets hot
9. light bulb i. a short piece of wire inside a machine which stops the electricity when there is too much power
10. fuse j. a glass object that is inside a lamp . It produces light
11. bump k. remain, stay
12. friction l. fluid, something watery
13. current m. sticky Stuff , like glue
14. device n. material that stops electricity going through it
15. convert o. the place you get some-thing from
16. circuit p. an object that starts or stops the flow of electricity when you press it
17. connect r. a very thin piece of metal in which electricity can pass through
18. charge s. the network of wires in a house or building
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How batteries work

A battery has liquid or paste in it that helps it produce electric charges. The flat end of the battery has a
negative charge and the end with the bump has a positive charge. When you link a wire between both ends, a
current flows. When the current passes through a light bulb electric energy is converted into light. The chemicals
in the battery keep the ends charged and the battery going. As times passes, the chemical becomes weaker and
weaker and the battery cannot produce any more energy.
Electric Circuits
Electrons cannot jump freely through the air to a positively charged atom. They need a circuit to move.
When a source of energy, like a battery, is connected to a light bulb the electrons can move from the battery to the
light bulb and back again. We call this an electric circuit. Sometimes there are many circuits in an electrical device
that make it work. A TV set or a computer may have millions of parts that are connected to each other in different
ways. You can stop the current from flowing by putting a switch into the circuit. You can open the circuit and
stop electrons from moving.
A piece of metal or wire can also be used to produce heat. When an electrical current passes through such
metal it can be slowed down by resistance. This causes friction and makes the wires hot. Thats why you can toast
your bread in a toaster or dry your hair with warm air from a hairdryer. In some cases wires can become too hot if
too many electrons flow through them. Special switches, called fuses, protect the wiring in many buildings.

III. Building Vocabulary

Match the words on the left with their definitions on the right.

1. voltage a. a flat part of an object that pushes against water

2. power line b. a wire that goes around an object in a circle and produces light or heat when electricity passes through
3. transformer c. a flow of electricity through a piece of metal
4. steam d. to become smaller
5. steam engine e. wires or cables that transport electricity
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 6. transform f. the same as
7. turbine g. a high electrical force
8. blade h. to become bigger
9. rotate i. the unit of something
10. coil j. a large wire that carries electricity above or under the ground
11. measurement k. to go around
12. decrease l. the white gas that water produces when you make it hot
13. distribution lines m. an engine or motor that works with steam power
14. equal n. change
15. current o. a machine that changes electricity from one voltage to another
16. high voltage p. a motor that moves a special wheel around
17. increase q. an electrical force measured in volts

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How electricity is produced

Generators are used to transform mechanical energy into electrical energy. A magnet rotates inside a coil
of wire. When the magnet moves, an electric current is produced in the wire.
Most power stations use turbines to make the generator rotate. Water is heated to make steam, which
pushes the blades of the turbine. Gas, oil or coal can be used to heat the water. Some countries build power stations
on rivers, where the moving water pushes the turbine blades.
How electricity is measured
Electricity is measured in watts, named after James Watt who invented the steam engine. It would take
about 750 watts to equal one horsepower. A kilowatt-hour is the energy of 1,000 watts that work for one hour. If,
for example, you use a 100-watt light bulb for 10 hours you have used 1 kilowatt of electricity.
How electricity is transported
The electricity produced by a generator travels along cables to a transformer that changes the voltage of
electricity. Power lines carry the high-voltage electricity over very long distances. When it reaches your home
town another transformer lowers the voltage and smaller power lines bring it to homes, offices and factories.

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 IV. Building Vocabulary
Match the words on the left with their definitions on the right.

1. heart failure a. an electrical ma-chine that you normally use in the house, like a cooker or a washing machine
2. lightning b. increase
3. power line c. a closed circle that electricity travels through
4. occur d. a flow of electricity through a piece of metal
5. safety feature e. machine or a tool that does something special
6. tissue f. pull
7. appliance g. if you hurt yourself
8. injury h. when your heart stops beating
9. build-up i. a powerful flash of light in the sky, during a thunderstorm
10. closed circuit j. a large wire that carries electricity above or under the ground
11. current k. happen
12. device m. things in machines or electric objects that protect you from being hurt
13. drag n. the material that forms animal or plant cells

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Static Electricity Current Electricity

happens when there is a build-up of happens when electrons flow freely between
electrons objects
it stays in one place and then jumps to an it needs a conductor something in which it
object can flow, like a wire.
it does not need a closed circuit to flow current electricity needs a closed circuit
it is the kind of electricity you feel when you it is in many electrical appliances in our homes
rub your pull-over against an object or when - toasters, TV sets , computers.
you drag your feet over a carpet. a battery is a form of current electricity
lightning is a form of static electricity

Electrical safety
It is important to understand why and how you can protect yourself from electrical injuries. Electric shock
occurs when an electric current passes through your body. It can lead to heart failure and can damage other parts
of your body. It can also burn your skin and other body tissues. A very weak electrical object, like a battery,
cannot do any harm to you, but inside the house you have devices and machines that use 220 volts.
Most machines in your house have safety features to protect you. It something goes wrong, a special wire
leads the electricity to the ground where nothing can happen. There are also electrical dangers outside your house.
Trees that touch power lines can be dangerous. Lightning has more than enough electricity to kill a person. If you
get caught in a thunderstorm stay away from open fields and high places. One of the safest places is your car,
because lightning will only hit the outside metal of the car.

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 V. Comprehension Check
A. Answer the following questions.
1. What are the three parts of an atom? 1_________________ 2_________________ 3_____________________

2. What are electrons?

____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________

3. When is electricity created?

____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________

4. What are conductors?

____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________

5. What are insulators?

____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________

6. Which two kinds of currents are there? 1___________________________ 2____________________________

7. Why do you need a circuit to make a light bulb work?

____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________

8. How can you stop a current from flowing?

____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________

9. How can electrons be slowed down?

____________________________________________________________________________________________

10. Why do we need fuses?

____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________

11. How does a battery work?

____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________

12. How does a generator make electricity?

____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________

13. What makes a generator rotate?

____________________________________________________________________________________________

14. How do power stations produce steam to make electricity?

____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
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15. How is electricity measured?
____________________________________________________________________________________________

16. One horsepower is about

____________________________________________________________________________________________

17. What must happen before electricity can be transported over long distances?

____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________

18. How can you protect yourself in a thunderstorm?

____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
B. True or False? Write T for True and F for False.
_______ Electrons are negatively charged particles of an atom.
_______ Copper is a good conductor.
_______ A battery has two positive charges.
_______ Current electricity needs a closed circuit.
_______ 1,000 watts are the same as one horsepower.
_______ An electric current can be slowed down by resistance.
_______ You can stop a current by putting a fuse into the circuit.
_______ Generators are used to transform light into heat.
_______ One of the safest places during a thunderstorm is your car.
_______ Normally, an atom has as many protons as it has electrons.
_______ Low voltage power lines carry electricity over long distances.
_______ Some countries use water to push turbine blades.

C. Put the words from the box into the text!

A. conductors B. copper C. electrons D. insulators E. metals
F. negative G. plug H. positive I. safety J. touch
K. travel

Electricity is created when (1) _____________________ move between atoms. (2) ______________ atoms look
for free (3) _________________ electrons and attract them. (4) __________________ are used as materials that let
electrons (5) _____________ freely. Good materials are (6) _______________ and other (7) _______________.
(8) ________________ are materials that are important for our (9) ______________ . With-out them we couldnt
(10) ________________ a hot pan or (11) _______________ in a toaster.

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 D. How is electricity transported? Fill in the blank with the correct words/phrases/sentences.

E. Match the words in the box with the correct pictures.

A. chainsaw B. iron C. lawn mower D. stove E. coffee
F. machine G. torch H. camera I. telephone J. calculator
K. vacuum cleaner

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 F. Find 14 words in the puzzle()that have to do with electricity and finish the world list at
the bottom of the page!

B_____Y C____E C_______R C__D

C_____T E______N F__E L_______G
S____T S____H T_________R V_____E
W__T W__E

G. Puzzle Words.

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2. stable 1. a negatively charged part of an atom
3. a soft red and brown metal that lets electricity pass through easily 4. an object that starts or stops the flow
6. a very thin piece of metal in which electricity can pass through of electricity when you press it
7. when you rub something against something else 5. a flow of electricity through a piece
9. a motor that moves a special wheel around of a metal
10. the place you get something from 8. material in which electrons cannot
13. the white gas that is produced when you heat up water move around
14. material through which electrons can travel freely 11. a glass object that produces light
15. an electrical machine that you normally use in a house inside a lamp (two words)
12. to become bigger

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