Chapter 15 Study Guide
Vocabulary
Circuit
current electricity
electromagnet
Insulation
parallel circuit
series circuit
Static electricity
thermal energy
heat
LESSON 1
 How is thermal energy like kinetic energy?
 The more thermal energy, the ______________ something is
 The less thermal energy, the _______________ something is
 How is thermal energy measured? What 2 scales do we use to measure? Boiling and
freezing point of water on both scales.
 When do particles move faster, warmer or colder?
 What are the 3 processes that transfer thermal energy? Describe each
 Is insulation a good or bad conductor of energy? Is it good or bad for us? Why?
LESSON 2
 What are the 3 subatomic particles in an atom called and what charges do they hold?
 How do you make something have a negative charge? Why does it become negative?
 How do you make something have a positive charge? Why does it become positive?
In our balloon demo lab of static electricity, at first the balloons didn’t stick together.
Why?
 What did we have to do in order to make the balloons stick together? What caused
them to now stick together?
 Is static electricity controllable and predictable?
 Know examples of good and bad conductors of electricity.
 What part of a light bulb receives the electric current? What happens to it when the
current is received?
 What percentage of electricity is generated from hydroelectricity, fossil fuels and
nuclear plants? What is hydroelectricity?
 No matter the source of generating electricity, it all depends on one thing….What is it?
 What are the 3 sources of energy that hold the most promise for the future?
LESSON 3
 At home or at school our source of electric charge comes from where? Where is the
source in a flashlight or remote control?
 What are the (+) and (-) sides of a battery called?
 In order for a circuit to work it has to be _________________.
 Describe an open and closed circuit. What does each mean? Be able to draw a simple
diagram of each.
 Know the symbols for battery, lamp/bulb/ switch, buzzer and motor.
 Be able to draw and/or label a picture and/or diagram of a parallel and/or series circuit.
 What is a pro of a parallel circuit and a con of a series circuit?
 In a parallel circuit, if one fails will the others work? What about in a series circuit?
 What 3 common household items would you need in order to make an electromagnet at
home?
Diagrams
Be able to label the symbols in a diagram of a parallel or series circuit. Determine whether the
circuit is parallel or series. Be able to draw the diagram using pictures.
Be able to draw a parallel or series circuit using pictures and/or symbols.