Electricity - Spigot Science

Tap intoLearningNo. 20Spigot Sciencefor Kids and ClassroomsElectricityIn this Issue:*What is Electricity? *Living Electricity*Conserving Electricity *Electrical Safety*and much more!

ElectricityConnections Across the CurriculumIn this IssueFrom the Publisher .................................................. 2Science ConnectionWhat is Electricity? by David Cochran ....................... 4Two Types of Flowing Electricityby David Cochran ................................................... 6Conductors and Insulators by David Cochran ............. 7Seven Ways to Make Electricity by Elsie Spry .......... 8Save Electricity―Eat Salad by Sarah V. Richard ...... 10Living Power Plants by Mary Reina ......................... 11How to Draw a Circuit that Really Worksby Brooke Reedlunn .............................................. 12The Many Faces of Electricity by Allison Greco ...... 13Think Like a Scientist by David Cochran .................. 14What Do You Know about Electricity?by Bob Delaney .................................................... 15Technology ConnectionHow Do Touch Screens Work? by Brook Reedlunn ..16Engineering ConnectionWhat Do Electrical Engineers Do?by David Cochran............................................ 17Math ConnectionMeasuring the Use of Electricityby David Cochran............................................ 18Language Arts ConnectionSymbols of Power by David Cochran ...................... 20Current Events by David Cochran ............................ 21In Their Own Words ............................................. 22Word Ladder by Karen Gentsch ................................ 23Social Studies ConnectionWho Was the Father of Electricity?by Brooke Reedlunn ............................................... 24Other Pioneers of Electricity ................................. 25Benjamin Franklin Harnesses Electricityby Maria Baker..................................................... 26Scientists Are People Tooby Elsie Spry ........................................................ 27Health ConnectionElectricity in the Body by Allison Greco .................. 29The Shocking Truth about Electricityby Allison Greco .................................................. 30Arts ConnectionSinging Tesla Coils by Maria Baker ........................ 31Library ConnectionElectricity Book Reviews by Dr. Patricia Richwine .. 32Answers ............................................................... 34Reading Tip .......................................................... 34Geography ConnectionWhat Night Lights Tell Us by David Cochran ........ 19Look for BOLD words throughout Spigot. These are vocabularywords you should learn. If you don’t know them, look them up onlineor in a dictionary. Words are bolded the first time they appear.When you see Ponder in Spigot,you’ll know it’s time to think!Spigot Science - http://www.spigotscience.com 3 Electricity

Science ConnectionWhat isElectricity?By David CochranWe flick on the light switch and thelight goes on. We click the remote andthe TV glows. We open the refrigeratorand the food is cold. We seldom thinkabout these appliances. But if we losepower as the result of a storm, wesuddenly notice all the things run byelectricity.We don’t think much about where electricitycomes from or what it takes to produce it. We justwant our lights and our appliances to work.Electricity, a part of our natural world, has beenall around as long as we've been on Earth. But wehaven't been able to use it until the last 150 years,when people discovered ways to harness and use it.The Root of Electricity: Opposites AttractOver 2,500 years ago, a Greek philosophernamed Democritus figured out that if you startcutting matter into pieces, you are eventually leftwith tiny pieces that he called atmos or atoms.You can’t break atoms, also called elements,without destroying them. They are the basic buildingblocks of matter. Each atom has parts calledprotons, neutrons, and electrons. Protons andneutrons are in the center of the atom, which is calledthe nucleus. Protons have a positive charge, andelectrons have a negative charge. Neutrons areneutral, having no charge. Electrons orbit thenucleus like a satellite orbits the Earth. Oppositesattract, so the positive protons cause the negativeelectrons to move, creating electricity.Think about a magnet. One end has a positivecharge and the other has a negative charge. Whenyou put the magnet near an object, it will either beattracted to it or it will repel (push away from) it.Since opposites attract, positively charged objectsStatic electricity on a slideKen Bosma, Wikimedia Commonswill be attracted to the negatively charged part of themagnet. Positively charged objects will repel thepositive part of the magnet.Three Kinds of ElectricityThere are three kinds of electricity: static,flowing, and vacuum flowing.1. Static ElectricityStatic electricity doesn’t flow. Static meanslacking movement or action, so electrons in staticelectricity only move when a positive ion is attractedto a negative electron. It occurs when you transferelectrons by rubbing objects against each other. Forexample, if you are walking across the room,electrons are transferred from the rug to your shoe.Now you have a lot more electrons in your body andit wants to discharge or get rid of them. You touchyour cat and the electrons jump from you to the cat.Sometimes there is a harmless spark or a snappingsound, but static electricity does not have a largecharge, so it is harmless. Of course, your catprobably wouldn’t agree!Another example of static electricity occurs whenyou’ve been outside on a cold day. You come insideand take off your hat. Your hair goes crazy and youlook like a wild person as it stands on end. Theelectrons built up inContinued on next pageSpigot Science - http://www.spigotscience.com 4 Electricity

Science ConnectionWhat Is Electricity? continuedyour hat and they transferred to your hair, causing itto react to the charge.2. Flowing ElectricityElectricity of this type lights our houses and runsour appliances. It is called flowing electricitybecause the electrons travel in paths called circuits.Electrons are everywhere, but they need to bemoving in a path to transfer electricity from oneplace to another. Electrons flow through aconducting material like wire or metal. An electricfield, a charged field of moving electrons, travels tothe wire from a source like a generator. This is likegiving caffeine to the wire. It makes the electronsmove and electricity moves through the wire.Some people like to describe the movement ofelectricity in a wire like a plastic pipe filled withping-pong balls. The electrons are the ping-pongballs. They don’t move unless you start to add moreping pong balls to the tube. The more you add, thefaster the balls in the tube move until they pop outthe other end of the tube.To use the electrons that have moved from thegenerator to our house, we need to plug ourappliances into an outlet. Electrons can then moveto the appliance and turn a motor that makes it run.Similarly, to move electrons stored in a battery to runa tablet computer, we need to charge the battery.These two types of electricity are different. Theelectricity to light our house uses alternatingcurrent (AC), while the battery uses direct current(DC).See the article about these two types of currenton page 6.3. Flowing VacuumWe seldom see the third kind of flowingelectricity because it occurs in a vacuum where airdoesn’t interfere with it. If there is a positive chargeto attract them, electrons will flow in a vacuum.Space is a vacuum and the sun can send outelectromagnetic pulses. Another example is inolder televisions, not flat screens. These had vacuumtubes in them that attracted electrons. Florescentlights also conduct electricity in their vacuum tubes.Captured Electricity is Fairly NewAs important as electricity is in our lives in the21 st century, it has not been available for that manyyears when you consider all of history. It took manyyears for inventors to find ways to capture andcontrol electricity so we can use it. Inventors begancreating electric lights as early as 1800. But itwasn’t until about 1879 that Thomas Edison built abulb that could last for a long time.It took many years after that for people to getelectricity in their homes. A whole network of wireshad to be built. By the early 1900s, just over 100years ago, city homes were being wired. Newhouses were wired, but it took some time for olderhomes to have wires installed. Cities received thefirst electricity, and it took into the 1940s for somerural homes to get electricity.This invention that allowed us to create modernappliances and communications was not available formost of history. It’s hard for us to imagine a lifewithout electricity, but our ancestors would beastounded if they could see how electricity haschanged our lives and led us to new and excitinginventions.David Cochran is the Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of SpigotScience/Daval Publications LLC.Activities1. Rub a balloon against your body until it buildsup a charge. Stick it on the wall or on yourfriend’s back. What makes the balloon stick?Explain how this is a demonstration of staticelectricity.2. Discuss the difference between static and flowingelectricity. What does the word staticmean? What does flowing mean?3. Using friends as props and actors, do a skit toshow the flow of electricity in static and flowingelectricity. Have others explain your ac-PonderWhy do you think it took so long to figureout how to harness electricity?Spigot Science - http://www.spigotscience.com 5 Electricity

Science ConnectionTwo Typesof FlowingElectricityBy David CochranKelly Martin, Wikimedia CommonsAn electrical substation where AC current flowsThere are two types of electricity that flowthrough electric circuits―direct current and alternatingcurrent.1. Direct Current (DC)Direct current is the type of current in a battery.One end of the battery holds a positive charge andthe other a negative charge. To power a light bulb,one end of a wire is connected to the positive endand the other end is connected to the bulb. A secondwire is connected from the negative side of the batteryand to the light bulb. Electricity is stored in thebattery. When the wires are connected, it completesa circuit, a round trip for the electrons from the batteryto the light and back to the battery. Direct currentis only good when lower voltage is needed.See How to Make a Graphite Circuit on page 12.2. Alternating Current (AC)The type of electric current that we use most oftenis called alternating current. It is used whenhigher voltage is needed and when voltage levelsneed to be adjusted from higher to lower. A generatoris needed to create alternating current. It worksby alternating or changing the direction of the currentmany times per second. When electricity comesfrom a large generator, it is too powerful to be usedsafely in our homes. It needs to be stepped down to aless powerful level using a transformer. By alternatingthe current, it is easier to adjust it for variouspower needs. A factory may need a lot of power,while a small house may need much less.Activities1. Read more about the direct and alternatingcurrent in books or on the Internet. Create adiagram that shows how each works. Be preparedto explain and discuss your diagram.2. Search on the Internet to find out how we cancharge DC devices by plugging them into an ACoutlet in the wall. Discuss your answer withothers.3. Do research and build a list of devices that useAC and DC. Explain what the items on each listhave in common. Why do you think the items havedifferent power requirements?Spigot Science - http://www.spigotscience.com 6 Electricity

Science ConnectionConductorsandInsulatorsBy David CochranGuido GerdingWikimediaCommonsSome materials are natural attractors of electricity. They are called conductors, and electrons easily flowthrough them. Most metals are conductors, and copper wire is a favorite metal to use in an electrical circuit.Gold and silver are also good conductors.Other materials do not conduct electricity. It is very hard, if not impossible, to get electricity to flowthrough non-conductors. Glass is an example of a non-conducting material. These materials are also calledinsulating materials because they insulate or prevent the flow of electrons. Rubber also repels electric current,so it is also a good insulator.ConductorsorInsulators?Put a Y for yes or anN for no in the columnthat you think applies tothe materials.Feel free to do someresearch using the Internetor books to find theanswer.Material Does it conduct? Does it insulate?watercorksteel nailrubber duckywoodgraphite (in a pencil)paperplastickeycoinAnswers are on page 34.There is a fast way to test material to see if itconducts electricity. Place a magnet on a piece ofmaterial. Is it attracted to the material or does it repel?If it is attracted, the material is a conductor. Ifit is not attracted, it is an insulator. There are somematerials, like liquids, that can’t be tested this way.PonderWhy do you think the outsideof a light bulb is made of glass?Spigot Science - http://www.spigotscience.com 7 Electricity

Science ConnectionSeven Ways to Make ElectricityBy Elsie SpryWe know electricity comes from an outlet in the wall, but how does it start? It starts by making a pathfor electrons to flow, using materials that are DIFFERENT from each other. We know that there are at leastseven different ways to make electricity.Here are seven ways to create electricity along with products that use them:HeatYou can heat a strip of two different metalsattached together like two pieces of gum. Eachmetal heats up differently, making a temperaturegradient (difference). The metals exchangeelectrons from hotter to cooler, making a smallelectric current.Example: A thermostat (for your furnace)LightA solar cell uses sunshine. It combines twoconductors (silicon/boron and silicon/phosphorous). Phosphorous absorbs the energyfrom light (photons) differently than boron.Electricity flows between these differences.Light also makes electricity between black andwhite.Example: Solar panel (for streetlights and roadsignals)Stan Zurek, Wikimedia CommonsFrictionWe call electricity from friction static electricity.When one material rubs against another,both become electrically charged―but the electronsdon't move. The friction between glass andfur, or a comb and your hair builds up these static(stationary) electrons. The electrons wait for aconductor—you—with fewer electrons to finishthe pathway, giving you a shock.Example: Copy machines (allowing ink to stickto the paper in the right spots)Continued on next pageSpigot Science - http://www.spigotscience.com 8 Electricity

Science ConnectionSave Electricity—Eat Salad!By Sarah V. RichardWouldn’t it be great if we had so much electricitythat we could use as much as we wanted? Unfortunately,most electricity is created from precious nonrenewableresources such as coal, oil, and gas. Theseare fossil fuels. Once they are used, they are goneforever. The more of these resources we use, themore money we spend to obtain them. It is importantto be aware of how much electricity is actually beingused by each person on a daily basis so we don’twaste money and resources. By cutting back our unnecessaryuse of electricity, we can conserve resourcesthat create energy.Ways to Cut Back Electricity UseThink of all the electronics such as televisions,computers, cell phones, eReaders, electronic tablets,and music devices people own. If we always makesure these electronics are turned off when they arenot being used, we can save on electricity. We canalso avoid letting appliances sit idle to avoid drainingthe battery. Recharging batteries uses electricity.We can save electricity by turning off the lightsin the rooms. If it is daytime, we can open the blindsand let in the sunshine. Sunlight is free, comparedwith artificial light coming fromlamps or ceiling lights. Whensomeone leaves a room and theroom is no longer being used,we can make sure we turn offunneeded lights.If we close the windows anddoors, the cool or hot air staysinside. If the windows anddoors are open, air will escapeand the air conditioner or furnacewill have to use more energyto keep the temperature inside the house the same.We can also set the thermostats to seventy-eight degreesin the summer and sixty-eight degrees or lowerin the winter to be energy efficient.Eat SaladWe can even save electricityby watching what we eat. If wehave salad, fresh fruit, and/orsandwiches for a meal, we are notusing a stove or microwave. Ifwe eat an uncooked meal likethese just a few times a month,we will save on the electricitybill.Nobody likes to take coldshowers, but we can think aboutusing hot water only when necessary.We can avoid taking long,hot showers. When possible, wecan wash laundry with less hotwater or even cold water. If wewash dishes in a dishwasher, weAnother Wayto SaveAnother way tosave resources isto use renewableresources thatrely on air, water,and sunlight.Wind turbines,hydroelectricpower plants,and solar panelsare examples ofthese powersources.can put in as many dishes as possible with each dishwashingload. Hot water uses more energy becausethe water has to be heated by electricity, gas, or oil.We can all do our part to make the world a betterplace by paying attention to the amount of energy weuse. From turning electronics off to using less hotwater, we save energy and money too.Sarah V. Richard is the author of Ten Ways I Can Be Green.You can find her work at www.diskuspublishing.com/.sarahrichard.html.Activities1. Continue the list of energy-saving ideas startedin this article. Brainstorm and share.2. Do an energy use study on your home, school,or other location. Look at the power use over aweek. Brainstorm and list ways that you canconserve. Share your findings with the peoplein charge and encourage them to reduce theirenergy use.3. Make a poster for your school that shows othershow to save on electric use. Pick just one themefor the poster such as Turn off the Lights. Illustrateit to show why it is important to do this.Spigot Science - http://www.spigotscience.com 10 Electricity

Science ConnectionLiving PowerPlantsBy Mary ReinaStan Sheb, Wikimedia CommonsElectric eel at the Steinhart Aquarium in San FranciscoHmmm. I thinkshe needs a tripto the seashore.You have a pain in yourfoot that won’t go away.Your doctor gives you aremedy. Go to the seashore.Find a fish called an electricray. Place your achingfoot on it. Make sure seawaterflows over your foot.Let the animal shock yourfoot over and over again.Remove it after numbnesssets in.Ancient BiobatteriesThis treatment, described in an ancient Romanmedical book, was considered a legitimate cure forarthritis. Back then, no one understood anythingabout electricity. People believed the shocks, tingles,and numbness they felt when they touched ananimal provided certain health benefits. Researchersbrought a new twist to this old idea by working onsomething called a biobattery. It’s a device basedon the way electric eels use special cells in their bodiesto store and produce electricity. They discoveredhow to copy the way those cells work and use themto make improved medical implants. Althoughthey are not yet perfected, biobattery implants mightsomeday be used to cure certain types of vision,heart, and hearing problems.Creatures we can't see might provide ideas forimproving our electronics, help make advances inthe medical field, and purify sewage systems. In2010, scientists wondered why the seabed of AarhusBay in Denmark seemed to pulse with electric power.They decided to scoop up and analyze mud 65feet below the surface of the bay. What they foundwere colonies of bacteria that connect themselves toeach other by building microscopic power lines.Each colony is surrounded by an insulating casefilled with fibers that produce and carry electricalpower from one to the other.Lower layers of the cells live in conditionswhere they have access to nutrients but no oxygen.Upper layers, closer to the seawater, have access tooxygen but no nutrients. Nature solved the problemby allowing both layers to to act like living powerplants that connect the cells in the lower layers tothose in the upper. The bacteria are so small thatone teaspoon of mud can work like a microscopicpower station that lets them electronically transferfood and oxygen.It seems like the people of early civilizationswere onto something. Those who came after themput in a lot of time and work to find out that steppingon an electric ray isn’t a good way of curing pain.Mary Reina is a well-published children’s freelance writer.Research ActivityUsing books or the Internet, do research to findout how biobatteries work. Share your findingswith others to learn about different types of biobatteries.Spigot Science - http://www.spigotscience.com 11 Electricity

Science ConnectionHow to Draw a Circuitthat Really Works!by Brooke ReedlunnLED lightGraphite lineAlligator clipsIf you thought making a circuit had to be complicated...thinkagain! You can DRAW a circuit thatreally works. Here is what you need to get started:Materials:2 alligator clips and wiresLED LightGraphite pencil (Softer pencils work better becausethey make a darker line. Try 2B or 3B.)Paper9V batteryTapeExperimental Procedure:1. Starting at the edge of the page, take the graphitepencil and draw a thick line, the thicker andshorter, the brighter the LED will be. The graphiteline will be one of the “wires” in the circuit.2. Starting at the edge of the page, about an inchaway from the first line, draw another thick linewith the graphite pencil. This is the other “wire”in the circuit. Don’t connect the two lines butleave a space of about an inch between them inwhich to put the LED.3. The circuit can take any shape you want; justdon’t cross lines or make them long.4. Connect the wires to the negative and positiveterminals on top of the 9 Volt battery.5. Clip the battery to the paper so that each of thealligator clips is on top of one of the graphitelines at the edge of the paper. You may have totest it to see which side it positive and which isnegative.6. Touch each of the LED wires to one of thegraphite lines, filling the gap that is left in themiddle of the circuit. With some jiggling andtweaking the LED should light up.7. Keep the LED lit by taping it in place so its wireskeep touching the circuit.Why does this work?It doesn’t seem that this should work, but here isthe science behind it: Pencils are made with graphite,which is conductive. It is not a good conductor likecopper, but electrons can still flow through it.Graphite is also a resistor. That means it restricts theflow of electrons and decreases the voltage as electricityflows through it.In this circuit, we need graphite to work as a conductorand resistor. It has to work as a conductor tocarry electrons to the LED and make it light up. Butit also has to be a resistor because 9 volts of electricityis too much of a charge for an LED and woulddestroy it. By the time the charge of 9 volts of energygets to the LED, it is closer to the 3.5 volts that anLED needs to light up. Try making your circuit lineslonger and shorter to change how much energy getsto the LED. Experiment with it and have fun!Spigot Science - http://www.spigotscience.com 12 Electricity

Science ConnectionThe Many Faces of ElectricityBy Allison GrecoIf you tried to make a list of all the things you useelectricity for, it would be very long. Electricity is avery important part of our lives and we use it everyday. But where does the electricity we use comefrom?In the 1800s, a scientist named Michael Faradaydiscovered that if he moved a magnet through a loopof wire, the wire would become electrified. He calledthis process electromagnetic induction. Today, electricalgenerators are just bigger versions of Faraday'sexperiment. They use a big magnet spinningnear a wire to produce electric current and then distributethe electricity they make to houses and buildingsfor us to use.This process sounds pretty high-tech, right?What you might be surprised to learn is that mostelectricity comes from very natural things in theworld around us. For example, most power plants usecoal to heat water to make steam. They then use thesteam to spin a big fan called a turbine. That spinningturbine is what actually rotates the magnetaround the wire loop to create electricity.Some power plants use other sources to makeelectricity. For example, natural gas can be burnedinstead of coal to make steam. Nuclear power plantssplit apart uranium atoms to release heat energy andpower the turbine. A wind farm uses wind to pushthe turbine, and a hydropower plant uses runningwater to push the turbine.Each of these electrical sources has advantagesand disadvantages. Burning coal and natural gas arevery efficient ways to create electricity, which meansthey have very little waste. But they also release pollutioninto the air. Coal and natural gas are limitednatural resources, which may run out one day. Nuclearpower plants are also very efficient at makingpower, but they release radiation into the atmosphere.Wind and water power are not as efficient, butthey use renewable natural resources and do notcause any pollution. Can you think of some other advantagesand disadvantages of the different kinds ofelectricity?Allison Greco is a medical student and writer who blogs atMD2Bgrecoa3.com.ActivityDo research to find the advantages and disadvantages of one of the sources used to generate electricitylisted in the table below. Compare your results with others and debate which source is best.Source of Power Advantages DisadvantagesCoalOilGasNuclearHydroelectricWindSpigot Science - http://www.spigotscience.com 13 Electricity

Science ConnectionThink Likea ScientistBy David CochranHave you ever thought about how you think? Have you ever wondered how wecan look at something that is confusing and make sense out of it? Scientists dothis all the time. Learning how scientists think can help us become betterthinkers. The scientific inquiry process is an important part of discovering andlearning how the world works. When reading Spigot, look for opportunities toThink Like a Scientist.Thinking and Acting SafelyScientists are always thinking of new ways to developtheir ideas, but that’s not the only thing theyare thinking about. As they conduct their investigations,scientists realize that these experiments can bevery dangerous. They are also thinking about safetyprecautions to avoid injury.Safety should also be on the minds of teacherswhen students do science labs. This is especially trueif the labs involve the use of electrical equipment.Electricity can be very dangerous, so we all need totake steps to avoid injury. .Here are some common safety tips related to theuse of electricity. Many of these can apply to ourhomes as well as a science lab:1. We always need to be on guard when usingelectricity. If we touch live wires, we could becomepart of the electrical circuit and suffer a shock.2. We need to watch out for electrical cords.Cords should be placed carefully so people don’t tripon them.3. When handling electricity, we should makesure we have dry hands. Water is a conductor ofelectricity and current can jump from wires to wetsurfaces so we should use electrical equipment in adry area.4. Many labs have rubber mats to stand on whenworking with electricity. Rubber helps to insulate,or ground, us from electric shock.5. We need to avoid touching electrical outletswith our hands or a conducting metal material suchas a knife.6. Plugs, wires, and appliances should be in goodworking condition. If wires are frayed or plugs haveburn marks on them, we should not use them.7. We need to know the type of electricity we arenear. Is it a battery? A wire with high amperage?8. It is a good idea to inspect the electrical equipmenteach time we use it to avoid problems.9. If someone is in contact with a live electricalconductor, we should never touch the person, theequipment, or the cord. It is safer to call for help andfind a way to turn off the electricity.10. Perhaps the most important rule is to alwaysbe aware of the area where electricity is used. Bybeing aware and thinking safety all the time, we canavoid most accidents.Some of these safety measures may seem likecommon sense, but they are all important to scientistsand to us. As we think like a scientist, weshould also think of safety first.Discussion1. Have you seen what can happen when electricityis not used safely? What happened?2. Why is safety so important when workingwith electricity?3. Why is it important to think about safety first?Spigot Science - http://www.spigotscience.com 14 Electricity

Science ConnectionWhat DoYou KnowaboutElectricity?By Bob DelaneyCohdra, morguefiles.comPut your knowledge of electricity to the test. Pick the term that best matches each phrase belowand then check the answers on page 34. Do research to understand any answers you get wrong.1. A small unit of matter, which is sometimes called a chemical elementA. insulator B. electron C. atom2. A device that makes electricity by using chemical reactionsA. neutron B. battery C. proton3. The closed path followed by an electric current.A. atom B. conductor C. circuit4. Energy caused by the movement of electrons through matter.A. electricity B. electron C. insulator5. Anything that carries or allows passage of heat, electricity, or soundA. nucleus B. conductor C. static electricity6. A very small particle that moves outside the nucleus of an atomA. electron B. proton C. neutron7. A material or device that does not conduct electricityA. circuit B. conductor C. insulator8. A small particle present in the nucleus of all atoms except the hydrogen atomA. neutron B. electron C. voltage9. A tiny particle in the nucleus of an atomA. circuit B. conductor C. proton10. The force of an electric currentA. voltage B. battery C. electronBob Delaney worked most of his career in hospitalsand offices. In retirement, he enjoys writing storiesand quizzes for kids.Spigot Science - http://www.spigotscience.com 15 Electricity

Technology ConnectionHow Do Touch Screens Work?By Brooke ReedlunnGrafixar, Morguefile.comTouch screens are so easy to use that eventoddlers can do it. But the engineering that goes intomaking them is not so simple. Have you everstopped to wonder how your finger and the computerwork together? Well I did, and what I found outmight surprise you!Bin im Garten, WikipediaUsing a tablet computerYou Are Part of the CircuitYOU are a part of the computer’s circuit whenyou use a touch screen because your body canconduct electricity. You might be thinking, “WHAT?Touch screens don’t zap me with electricity!” Butyou would only be halfway right. Let’s find out why.A circuit is made of wires that are like a road onwhich electrons can travel. The battery creates theenergy (or voltage) that makes electrons get excited.They don’t actually get excited like you do in thecafeteria, but they do start moving faster. Theseenergized electrons travel through the computer oncircuits.The word circuit sounds like “circle” because ithas to make a complete loop in order to work. Atouch screen is like a special kind of circuit withelectrons flowing from the battery, through thescreen, into your finger, to the processor, or brain ofthe device, and back to the battery again.Electricity in our Bodies?“So what does that have to do with my fingertouching a smart phone?” you might be thinking. I’mglad you asked...let’s continue. Electricity flowsthrough wires and it can also flow through your bodybecause you are made mostly of water and salt (justthe kind of stuff that electricity likes to movethrough).You can’t feel the electrons in your finger, butwhen you touch the screen the electrical field ischanged. Little electrons actually move from thetouch screen into your finger. Enough electronsmake this jump so that the computer can sense thechange in the circuit and measure where your fingeris touching the screen.The computer has to do a lot of work to figureout the details: how hard you pushed, how big yourfinger is, and how many fingers you used. In short,there is a whole bunch of math and smart computerprograming that make the magic happen. Plus, thetouch screen’s computer has to do all of that innanoseconds in order to make things worksmoothly. Think about that the next time you putyour finger on a smartphone!Brooke Reedlunn is a National Board Certified Teacher andwriter from Michigan.DiscussionDiscuss with others how we become part of acircuit when we use a touch screen.Star, the Spigotmascot, thinksabout how shemight use atouch screen.C. GirandolaSpigot Science - http://www.spigotscience.com 16 Electricity

Engineering ConnectionWhat Do ElectricalEngineers Do?By David CochranLike most engineering careers, electrical engineeringcovers a wide range of jobs. Electrical engineersdeal with any field that requires the use of electricity.Some electrical engineers work on cars, oncircuits for houses and buildings, and the design ofnew electric appliances. There are thousands of differentkinds of jobs that fall within this career.Angie, WikipediaA power plant voltage switch designed and developed by electricalengineersEducation NeededTo be an electrical engineer, you must have acollege degree. Some companies want engineerswho have master’s or doctoral degrees as well. Thething that all electrical engineers study is math andscience. Electrical engineers spend a lot of time calculatingwith precision how circuits are designed andhow they operate. This requires knowing algebra,geometry, trigonometry, and calculus. Electricalengineers also usually have a good background inphysics.What Electrical Engineers DoElectrical engineers follow procedures similar tothose used by other types of engineers, but theirwork is related to products that use electricity. Theymust know all about electricity―what it does, howto measure it, and how it makes products operate.1. Purpose/goal/problemIn developing a product, electrical engineers usuallystart with a purpose in mind. This purpose becomesa goal for the project. The goal is often statedas a problem. The goal drives what happens in theproject.2. Experimentation/DesignElectrical engineers often tinker with ideas andtry new approaches as they design the product.3. Building a prototypeA prototype is like the first draft of a story. It isthe first attempt to build a product. The product oftenchanges as it is developed, but the prototype providesinformation that electrical engineers can use toimprove it.4. Working in groupsProducts are seldom developed without the helpof others. Engineers work in teams with people havingdifferent skills. One scientist might be good atbuilding electrical circuits, while another might begood at testing and measurement.5. TestingPerhaps the most important step that electricalengineers take is testing. Products must work welland they must continue to work well over time.6. ProductionOnce the product has been proven to work well,it can go into production.7. Post-productionEven after the product is on the market, electricalengineers still have to monitor it to be sure it continuesto work well.Following these steps helps electrical engineershave better products that last longer. By followingsimilar steps, we can develop better projects, too.ActivitiesImagine a product that would requireelectricity (battery or wall plug) to run and thatwould improve our lives. Examples: a betterpencil sharpener, a new electric car, or a cellphone that knows what you are thinking. Describe what you would do with each of theseven steps to develop the product. Draw a picture of your prototype and give it aname. Share your ideas with others.Spigot Science - http://www.spigotscience.com 17 Electricity

Math ConnectionMeasuring the Useof ElectricityBy David CochranThere are many measurements connected withelectricity, but the one that most people are concernedwith is the measurement that determines theirelectric bill each month – kilowatt hours. To understandwhat a kilowatt is, we need to look at othermeasures of electricity. Volts: When electricity is generated from a batteryor power plant, it needs a force to move itthough a circuit. This force is called voltage.Batteries have very low voltage, while powerplants that are serving thousands of homes producehigh voltage.The power lines that carry high voltage electricitycan be seen crisscrossing the country.Transformers are used to reduce the voltage soit can be used in homes and businesses. Amps: As electrons travel through a circuit, theyare measured in amperes or amps. An amp isthe amount of current that flows through wires ina given period of time. Watts: The amount of energy used is measuredin watts. This measure is found by multiplyingthe voltage times the amps. For example: Theusual voltage in a house is 120 volts. The usualamps for a television is 1 amp.120 volts x 1 amp = 120 watts.To calculate your monthly electric bill, the powercompany reads the meter outside your house orapartment. The meter measures how many thousandsof watts you use over the month. Since kilomeans 1000 in the metric system, the unit is called akilowatt hour (kWH). If a family uses 100,000 wattsof power in a month, they have used 100 kilowatthours. The company charges a rate per kilowatt. Forexample, if the rate were $.10 per kilowatt hour, theelectric bill would show that you owe $10.Light bulbs are rated in watts. If a 60 watt bulbis on for one hour, it uses 60 watt hours of electricity(60 X 1 = 60). If it were to stay on for 20 hours, itwould use 1200 watt hours (60 X 20 = 1200). Sinceelectricity use is measured in kilowatt hours, wewould need to divide the watt hours by 1000.(1200 ÷ 1000 = 1.2) The bulb would use 1.2 kilowatthours of electricity.Calculate kWHHow many kilowatt hours of electricity are usedin each of these examples?1. A 100 watt bulb is on for 12 hours.2. A 60 watt bulb is on for 24 hours.3. a. You keep the porch light on for one month(30 days). It has a 60 watt bulb in it.b. It is on for a year (365 days).ChallengeYou replace a 100 watt light bulb with a 60 wattbulb.1. How many watts do you save each day if thebulb is on for 12 hours?2. How many watts do you save in one month (30days). How many kilowatt hours is this?3. If one kilowatt hour of electricity costs $.10,how much do you save by cutting the wattsfrom 100 to 60 in one month? In one year?Answers to the Calculate kWH and Challenge are found onpage 34.ActivityLook at your family’s electric bill. How muchdo you pay per kilowatt hour? How many kilowatthours do you use? List some ways you could reducethe number of kilowatt hours you use in yourhome.Spigot Science - http://www.spigotscience.com 18 Electricity

Geography ConnectionWhat Night Lights Tell UsBy David CochranWe can learn a lot by studying pictures. One of the best sources of pictures is NASA, which has beensending pictures of Earth taken in space for many years. In the photos below, we can see the amount of electricityused in different parts of the world at night. Look at the pictures and discuss possible answers to thequestions below. You may want to use an atlas to identify countries and states in the night photosPhoto of the United States at night taken from spaceNASAUSA at Night1. Using a map of the UnitedStates that has the names ofplaces on it, list three states thathave a lot of lights.2. Name some states where veryfew lights are showing.3. Why do some areas have somany lights and others have sofew?4. In an almanac or online, findthe population of three statesthat have a lot of lights. Findthe population of three statesthat have few lights. Do youthink there is a connection betweenpopulation and electricityuse? Why or why not?Africa, Europe, and Middle East at Night1. Which has more lights, Africa, Europe, or theMiddle East?2. Which has the least lights?3. Where are most of the lights in Africa?4. Why do you think the lights in Africa are wherethey are?5. Why do some places in Africa have few or nolights?6. Some say there is a connection between electricityand poverty. If this is true, which of thesenations is rich and which is poor?7. What other reason besides poverty could be areason for fewer lights?8. If you could make one statement about this map,what would it be?Photo of Africa, Europe, and the Middle East at nightSpigot Science - http://www.spigotscience.com 19 ElectricityNASA

Language Arts ConnectionSymbols of PowerBy David CochranReddy Kilowatt is theregistered trademark ofthe Reddy Kilowatt Corp.,a subsidiary of NorthernStates Power Company.The use of the Reddy Kilowatt and Willie Wirehand cartoons in thispublication are for educational purposes only.Willie Wirehand is theregistered trademarkof the National RuralElectric CooperativeAssociation.In the early days of electricity, power-generation companies sprang up all over the country. There weretwo types of companies ― private, investor-owned—and public. Reddy Kilowatt became the symbol forprivate companies. The Alabama Power Company developed it in 1926, and over 300 power companies licensedit to promote the use of electricity. Soon afterward, rural and public power companies decided thatthey needed a trademark, too. Willie Wirehand was developed and used to promote their source of electricpower.Discussion1. Why did power companies choose to havetrademarks?2. Notice how each trademark used symbols ofpower. Reddy uses lightning bolts, whileWillie is made of lamp parts, a socket headand a plug for legs. Why do you think theychose these symbols?3. If you were starting a power company, whichof these symbols would you choose? Why?Electricity JokesEddie: Hey, Teddy, do you know how to kill awatt?Teddy: I don’t know, shoot it?Eddie: No, just turn off the light switch.Sanjay: I can’t remember the name of that unit ofelectrical energy.Molly: What?Sanjay: That’s it. Thanks!Activities1. Do research online and/or in books to learn moreabout why these symbols of power were used.Who developed them? Why did they develop inthe 1920s? Are they in use today?2. Imagine that you and your classmates arestarting a power company and you want to havea trademark for your business. What symbol ofpower would you use? Draw a prototype of what your figure mightlook like. Remember, prototypes are justrough sketches to get your idea on paper orcomputer screen. Share your symbol of power with others andcompare theirs with yours. Be prepared to defend why your designshould be the trademark for your company. Through discussion, come to an agreementon which symbol should be chosen. Youmay decide to combine symbols for an evenbetter trademark. Have someone in your class make theofficial winning symbol.Spigot Science - http://www.spigotscience.com 20 Electricity

Language Arts ConnectionCurrentEventsBy David CochranMake an Electric NewsletterThere are many topics and vocabulary wordsconnected to electricity. Make your own newsletterabout electricity to show your knowledge in aninteresting and informal way. You might havedepartments such as news, sports, art, special intereststories, jokes, etc. Look at a newspaper or an onlinenewsletter to get some ideas. Here are some tips tohelp you have a successful newsletter:1. Have every article be about electricity.2. Keep articles short.3. Have a catchy title.4. Include pictures or draw your own.5. Use your sense of humor.6. Involve others as writers, artists, andproofreaders.7. Proofread, proofread, proofread8. Distribute your electricity newsletter by print oron the internet.Where Did the Word ElectricityCome From?While ancient people didn’t know about electricity,they knew it when electric eels and other fish thatcarried a charge shocked them. They saw the resultsof lightning hitting the earth, and they knew thatsome materials could attract objects when they werecharged.In 600 BC, Thales of Miletus, a Greek philosopher,discovered that when he rubbed an amber rodon the fur of a cat, the rod would get charged. Hecould use it to pick up light objects like feathers.Thales had created static electricity.It wasn’t until a thousand years later, in 1600,that William Gilbert needed a word to describe whatwe now call electricity for his text book, De Magnete.He coined the word electricus, which means“like amber or of amber.” Of course, electricity haslittle to do with amber, but he was thinking about thewritings of the early people who linked amber andstatic electricity. He was also thinking about theLatin and Greek words for amber—Latin electrum,Greek ἤλεκτρον (elektron).Gilbert’s choice of a word was very logical. Amberacquires a charge. Electrum means “amber.” Soelectricity refers to acquiring a charge.Electric WordsCan you think of other words that are made fromthe root word electric? Make a list, define them,and discuss what they have to do with electricity.Learn MoreLearn more by researching one of these topics:amber, Thales of Miletos, William Gilbert,electricus, origin of word electricity, staticelectricity, amber rodSpigot Science - http://www.spigotscience.com 21 Electricity

Language Arts ConnectionIn Their Own WordsExplain in your own words what these quotes about electricity mean.I believe talent is like electricity. We don't understandelectricity. We use it.Maya Angelou(The) brain may be compared to an electricbattery...a group of electric batteries will providemore energy than a single battery.Napoleon HillA lot of words in English confuse the idea of lifeand electricity, like the word livewire.Laurie AndersonActivitySearch in books or the Internet for other sayingsthat refer to electricity. Explain what they mean.Electricity is really just organized lighting.George CarlinSpigot Science - http://www.spigotscience.com 22 Electricity

Language Arts ConnectionWord LadderBy Karen GentschWord Ladder is a game credited to Lewis Carroll, the authorof Alice in Wonderland. The object of the game is to change thestarting word into the ending word one step at a time. At eachstep, you change only one letter to make a new word.For example, you can change CUP to POT in three steps:cup-cut-put-potRead the clues, then write the next word. Remember to onlychange one letter at each step.Starting word: _b_ _u_ _l_ _b_Use the same word in each blank - ____dog, _____frog,_____dozer: ___ ___ ___ ___The outer covering of a seed, nut, or fruit: ___ ___ ___ ___Use the same word in each blank – ant____, over the _____,Capitol _____:___ ___ ___ ___The handle portion of a tool or weapon: ___ ___ ___ ___Small particles of sediment: ___ ___ ___ ___Common name for NaCl, sodium chloride: ___ ___ ___ ___A type of milkshake: ___ ___ ___ ___To shed feathers or an exoskeleton: ___ ___ ___ ___Earthquake is to Richter Scale as battery is to :___ ___ ___ ___Dr. Karen Gentsch was an elementary school teacher. She is currently aprofessor in the Education Department at ETBU (East Texas BaptistUniversity). She teaches courses in reading and science teaching methods.Answers are on page 34Spigot Science - http://www.spigotscience.com 23 Electricity

Social Studies ConnectionWho Was the Father of Electricity?By Brooke ReedlunnThere were several inventors who contributed to the development of electricity as we know it today. Mostpeople have heard of Thomas Edison but fewer know about Nikola Tesla. Edison and Tesla worked together atfirst and then were rivals. They both worked obsessively, sleeping only 2 hours a night, but that is where thesimilarities end. Get to know the facts about both inventors by reading the notes below. Decide for yourself―whowas the father of electricity?Thomas Edison (1847-1931) Nikola Tesla (1856-1943)Was a talented businessman (started his first businessat age 12) but had little formal education.Had a talent for practical, money-making inventions.Protected his patents in court when otherinventors stole his ideas.Improved the light bulb design so that it waspractical and widely used.Championed Direct Current (DC) as a safe wayto use electricity, even though it cost more andwas less powerful than Alternating Current (AC).Invented a power station that ran on DC. It couldtransmit power a mile and a half from the station.Tried to convince people that AC was unsafe bypublicly electrocuting animals and funding theinvention of the electric chair.Created many inventions, including: the stockticker, phonograph, kinetoscope (early motionpicture camera), telephone receiver, and fluoroscope(X-ray machine). He held a total of 1,093patents.Profited greatly by being one of the first to useassembly lines to mass produce his inventions.Went to college for electrical engineering in EasternEurope but moved to New York to work forThomas Edison.Was humble, precise, and eccentric (was afraidof germs, had few friends, and may have had Asperger’s,a form of autism).Could see and test inventions in his mind beforebuilding them.Was promised $50,000 by Edison for improvinghis DC power plants. When Tesla succeeded, Edisonsaid he was joking, so Tesla quit.Invented a motor and power plants that couldsafely run on AC (the kind of electricity we usetoday). Power could be transmitted for long distancesfor less money.With his partner, Westinghouse, Tesla lit the1893 World’s Fair in Chicago with AC power,convincing the public that AC was superior.Created many inventions including: the x-ray machine,remote control, radio, automobile speedometer,airplane engine, and geothermal powerplant. Even though he held 300 patents, he did notpatent most of his other inventions.Always struggled to find money to build his inventions.Tesla died alone and penniless in a hotelroom.Continued on next pageSpigot Science - http://www.spigotscience.com 24 Electricity

Social Studies ConnectionWho Was the Father of Electricity, continuedLibrary of CongressThomas EdisonNapoleon Sarony,Wikimedia CommonsNickola TeslaDeciding Who Should Be Called the Father of ElectricityDiscuss and then list the characteristics of a person you would choose as the Father of Electricity.Example of a characteristic: The person should have developed ways to make practical uses of electricity.Option 1 – Discussion/Agreementa. Choose either Edison or Tesla. Match your characteristics list to the notes about that person in thisarticle. You may want to do additional research in books or the Internet to help you make yourdecision.b. Compare your notes with the notes of someone who researched the other person (Edison or Tesla).c. Through discussion, come to an agreement regarding who should earn the title Father of Electricity.Option 2 - Debatea. Pick Edison or Tesla. Do research to learn more about your choice.b. Match your choice to the points on the characteristics list you made.c. List arguments that you think will prove that your pick is the best choice.d. Debate who should earn the title Father of Electricity with someone who chose the other person.e. Have someone else listen to your debate and determine who the winner is.There are many other people besides Tesla andEdison who made discoveries that improved our understandingand use of electricity. Here are just a fewthat you may want to do additional research on: About 2000 years ago, people of Bagdad, Iraqdeveloped an early form of the battery now calledthe Bagdad Battery. Benjamin Franklin discovered that lightning waselectricity by doing kite experiments. Count Allesandro Volta built the first battery.Other Pioneers of ElectricityThe volt, a measure of the charge of a powersource, was named for him.Michael Faraday built the first electric motor.James Clark Maxwell proved that electricity andmagnetism are related. He also showed that lightis composed of electromagnetic waves.Heinrich Hertz and Jagadishchandra Boseshowed how electromagnetic waves could betransmitted.Spigot Science - http://www.spigotscience.com 25 Electricity

Social Studies ConnectionBenjamin Franklin Harnesses ElectricityBy Maria BakerBenjamin Franklin was an Americanscientist, inventor, politician, andlifelong learner who lived in the 1700s.He was born on January 17, 1706, inBoston, Massachusetts, and died onApril 17, 1790 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.Franklin was very interestedin science and had many ideas aboutthe systems of the Earth. One of hisbest known experiments had to do withelectricity. He believed that lightningwas a form of electricity that could betaken from the atmosphere and used onEarth.Testing an IdeaOne stormy day in June 1752,Franklin and his son, William, put theiridea to the test. He made a gadget usinga string, a metal key, and a kite. Healso added a Leyden jar, a tool used tostore positive and negative charges.When the storm was at its worst,Franklin released the kite into the airand ran to a barn for shelter.He held the dry end of the string asthe kite sailed through the stormclouds. The negative energy in the airtraveled down the wet string, all theway to the Leyden jar that was keepingdry in the barn.Franklin was safe because his endof the string was dry. The iron key nowhad a charge, and when he ran his handover it, he received a small shock. Inthis case, the shock was caused by thenegative charge of the key workingtogether with the positive charge of hisbody.What Franklin ProvedWith this experiment, Franklinproved that electricity could be harnessed,or gathered, and used by peopleeverywhere. Before he performedBenjamin West, Wikimedia CommonsBenjamin Franklin Drawing Electricity from the Sky (ca. 1816)the lightning experiment, many people disagreed with his idea. Hedid not let his critics change his mind, and he ended up reaching avery useful conclusion! His studies of lightning and electricity arestill practical today.Discussion1. What idea (hypothesis) did Franklin have?2. How did he test the hypothesis?3. What did he prove?Spigot Science - http://www.spigotscience.com 26 Electricity

Social Studies ConnectionScientistsArePeople TooDr. Daniel G. NoceraMIT NewsroomBy Elsie Spry“...Be inquisitive and totally dedicated ... Let your mind go... immerse yourself deeply. Then you can see whatothers cannot...The true, true discovery is ―You’ve got to just do it yourself. You can't read about it."Dr. Daniel Nocera, Creator/ Researcher of the Artificial LeafDr. Daniel Nocera is a research scientist whoruns the Nocera Lab at Harvard University, Boston,MA. The lab is working on a project to createelectrical energy from an artificial leaf similar to theway a plant converts energy from photosynthesis.He believes anyone will soon be able to make energyusing this “leaf” and water.Early Interest Leads to Science ResearchDr. Nocera was born in Boston, but his familymoved around a lot. Moving can be difficult, but ithelped him develop a love for science. “Science(was) something I could carry with me no matterwhere we moved,” says Dr. Nocera.When he was young, he used a microscope whenhe went on square-meter field trips. He wouldmeasure one square meter and dig for creatures. “…(In) just that little piece of land,” he says, “youcould...find a whole new world. That’s whatresearch is: you teach yourself stuff.”When Dr. Nocera was in high school, the ArabOil Embargo started. Energy prices for everythingskyrocketed. When he became a graduate student,war broke out in the oil-rich Middle East. Energygot even more expensive. That’s when Dr. Noceradecided to conduct research on plant energy. Evenwhen energy prices dropped, he continued his plant/chemistry research. His goal was to make fuel theway plants do from sunlight and water.An Interest Becomes a FocusThis project was so big that Dr. Nocera neededhelp from other scientists. He recruitedphotosynthesis specialists, solar engineers, and otherchemists. They made a plan to develop the leafworking backwards! Energy researchers often workfrom large to small. The Nocera Team works fromsmall to a little bigger. They started working on oneleaf rather than a whole tree.SunCatalytix_LaMonicaThe artificial leaf inside a container of water witha strong light shining on it.What an Artificial Leaf Does1. With an artificial leaf and water, you have apower station, and you don’t waste water. Dr.Nocera’s Team coats the sides of a solar cell withdifferent, inexpensive materials such as nickel,Continued on next pageSpigot Science - http://www.spigotscience.com 27 Electricity

Social Studies ConnectionScientists Are People Too, continuedcobalt, and hematite to make chemical reactions gofaster. The solar cell “leaf” uses sunlight to split waterinto its elements ―hydrogen and oxygen. Thesegases make electricity. Most solar cells make electricitywhen the sun shines. Nocera Lab’s solar cellmakes electricity anytime using other light sources.The procedure follows these steps:1. Put the artificial leaf in water.2. Place it in sunlight or artificial light.3. Watch the leaf split the water into hydrogen andoxygen gas. Hydrogen bubbles up on one sideof the leaf and oxygen bubbles up on the other.4. Capture the gasses in containers.5. Store the gases.6. Feed the gases into a fuel cell.7. Combine the gases with the fuel cell to makeelectricity and water.8. Repeat the process.Dr. Nocera and his team hope people withoutelectricity, especially in poor countries, will be ableto use the artificial leaf to power lights and smallappliances without the use of large generators.A popular music group when Dr. Nocera wasgrowing up was the Grateful Dead. This groupmakes their music widely available for people to enjoy.Dr. Nocera likes this idea and said, “What Iwant to do with energy is not different from what the‘Dead’ did with their music. I want to distribute(energy) to everybody.”What started as an interest for Dr. Nocera becamean important research project to help others getelectrical energy in an inexpensive way. As he saysin the quote at the head of the article, to discovernew things, you can’t just read about them, you haveto dig in and try things yourself. He follows his ownadvice and has had a very successful career filledwith true discovery.Elsie Spry is a full-time mom, part-time technical writer/author/presenter, and the Duplo® expert for hands-on"particular"physics. Be sure to visit her particular conceptsweb site..Learn MoreLearn more about the artificial leaf by readingScientists Develop Artificial Leaf to Convert SolarEnergy by David Cochran in Science in the News.It is available for download for Premium membersat the Spigot Science website.In many parts of the world, there is not enough electricity topower lights at night.Discussion1. How did Dr. Nocera develop an interest inscience?2. What caused Dr. Nocera’s interest in energy?3. What problem does he want to solve?4. How does the artificial leaf work?5. Why do you think Dr. Nocera wants everyoneto have an artificial leaf?Activities1. Select one aspect related to this article and doresearch to learn more. Some possible topicsinclude: Dr. Nocera, the Nocera Team, artificialleaf, photosynthesis, Nocera Lab, and solarengineer.2. Using the procedure discussed in the article,draw a diagram to show how the artificial leafworks.3. Brainstorm and discuss some people and placesthat would benefit from Dr. Nocera’s artificialleaf. Explain why they would benefit.Spigot Science - http://www.spigotscience.com 28 Electricity

Health ConnectionElectricity in the BodyBy Allison GrecoOne of the over 100,000 billion neurons in the human body.There are more neurons in our body than there are stars in theMilky Way.You may be familiar with how computers, televisions,and cell phones use electricity to send informationand perform tasks. What you may not knowis that the human body also uses a form of electricityto send messages, store information, and carry outfunctions.The Body Creates ElectricityThe body creates electricity in the same way thata battery does. Cells in the body keep positively andnegatively charged molecules away from each other.This creates stored energy, like the charge on the battery.The body uses the food you eat to replenish thecharges that are stored in your body.A ConductorNow that the body has created electricity, itneeds a conductor. The body uses nerve cells, calledneurons, as conductors. The neurons carry electricsignals from place to place in the body. When thesesignals are conducted through the neuron, they arecalled action potentials. The body uses action potentialsto store and transmit information from placeto place.You may already know that there are many differentelectrical wires that are used to carry differentkinds of information. Some wires carry electricitythat powers lights and electronics. Some wires sendfiles and data, like television and computer cables.There are also many different kinds of neurons inthe body. Each type of neuron uses action potentialsto send different kinds of messages. Some neuronsuse action potentials to tell your muscles where tomove and how strongly they should work. Otherneurons use action potentials to tell your brain aboutwhat you smell, hear, touch, taste, and see. There iseven a special neuron that uses action potentials totell your heart exactly when to beat! That's right —every thought, heartbeat, and movement that occursin your body is really controlled by an electrical signal.Mconnor, morguefile.comA salt shakerPonderA Salty ThoughtDo you know that salt(sodium chloride) plays animportant part in makingaction potentials work?According to the Salt Institute,salt causes action potentialsto fire. This allowsneurons to send signals tocells. Next time you areputting salt on your food,announce that you are helpingyour neurons to sendsignals throughout yourbody.What would happen if we had too littlesalt in our body? What if we had toomuch? Do research to find out.Spigot Science - http://www.spigotscience.com 29 Electricity

Health ConnectionThe Shocking Truthabout ElectricityBy Allison GrecoHave you ever rubbed your feet on a carpet whilewearing socks and then touched a friend? If you did,then you probably know what a minor electricalshock feels like. You may have done this as a gameor a joke. But electricity is no laughing matter. Infact, the truth may shock you!It can be dangerous for human beings to come incontact with electricity. This is because the humanbody is an extremely good conductor. This is whythe electricity you create when you rub your socks onthe floor travels all the way to the finger you use toshock someone. Being a good conductor means thatif you experience an electrical shock, the electricitywill move all the way through your body. It alsomeans that if you touch someone who has beenelectrocuted, the electrical shock can seriouslyinjure, or even kill, you.What does an electric shock do to the body?Your body normally uses electrical signals to telleach organ how to work properly. When highercurrents of electricity enter the body, they can causethe organs to function incorrectly. For example,higher current can cause all the muscles in your bodyto contract too strongly at one time. This causes lotsof pain and also makes breathing very difficult.Abnormal electrical signals can make your heartbeat irregularly, or even stop beating altogether.Finally, the heat from the electricity itself can causesevere burns both inside and outside your body.Rubbing your feet on the carpet only causes asmall static-electrical shock, and it will probably nothurt you very badly. But the large amount ofelectricity in everyday things like electrical wires andthunderstorms can hurt you. By being careful aboutelectricity―exercising electrical safety― at alltimes, you can keep yourself and others from gettinghurt.Activities1. List, then discuss, why electrical safety is soimportant.2. Discuss the difference between a static electricshock and one caused by flowing DC current.3. Develop a presentation to help younger studentslearn about why electrical safety is important.SpigotFactThe amount of shock you get from electricitydepends on the volts (charge) and the amps (amountof current). Voltage with low amps means you geta small or no shock. High volts and high ampsmeans you are in trouble.J. KeithElectricity and coins don’t mix. A six-year-old inserted thisquarter between the plug and the wall, touching the prongs.Sparks flew making holes in the coin and burn marks on thewall and plug.Spigot Science - http://www.spigotscience.com 30 Electricity

Arts ConnectionSingingTeslaCoilsBy Maria BakerAirarcs, Wikimedia CommonsDid you know that electricity has the ability tocreate music? We aren’t talking about the batteriesthat power your iPod or the radio in your car, but actualelectric currents! A Croatian scientist, NikolaTesla, invented the Tesla coil in 1891. Unlike normaltransformers, machines that change electricity fromone form to another, the Tesla coil had looselypacked wires that allowed it to make more energy. Itselectricity is high voltage but low current, so it is notharmful. Due to its design, the air core was able towithstand high levels of energy without causing damageto the machine. It was originally used to createelectricity, power lights, and send telegraphs acrossthe globe.A Musical IdeaIn 2005, musicians Joe DiPrima and OliverGreaves presented Steve Ward, a Tesla coil expert,with an idea: would an adjusted version of the Teslacoil be able to produce music? Ward suggested thatby changing the coil’s spark outputs, the wavelengthsof the two coils would interact. The end result wouldbe music! The waves of electricity would bounce offeach other, generating noise. In order to change thetone of the sound, Ward tinkered with the spark outputof the machine.The Singing Tesla Coil made its first appearancein late 2005, and Di Prima and Greaves formed theirband ArcAttack. The first song ArcAttack masteredon the Tesla coil was the Mario Brothers theme song.In 2006, they gave their first performance, featuringthe Tesla coil. ArcAttack and their singing Tesla coilbecame well known during the annual science fictionconvention, DucKon, in 2007. Videos of the performance,which have been posted on YouTube, havehelped the singing Tesla coil gain popularity. Sincetheir first concert, ArcAttack has toured the UnitedStates, sharing their unique blend of science as an artform with all.Fir0002/FlagstaffotosLightning is discharged (released) from a Tesla coil to makemusicMaria Baker is a high school student in Florida.Activity1. There are many examples of Tesla coil musicon YouTube.com. Listen to some of it. Shareyour reaction to it with others.2. Search online to learn more about how Teslacoil music is made.Spigot Science - http://www.spigotscience.com 31 Electricity

Library ConnectionElectricity Book ReviewsBy Dr. Patricia Richwineexciting. Find out why youwouldn't want to have worked onthis enormous project.Wired World by AndrewEinspruch, 2013, in DiscoveryEducation series, Rosen/PowerKids PressWithout electricity people mayhave listened for drums orwatched for smoke signals as twoof the ways to communicate.After electrical power washarnessed, one effectivecommunication invention was thetelephone. Today, the Internetcan connect us to the world bothwith and without wires. Readmore about staying safe in ourWired World.Electrical Gadgets by Ade Deane-Pratt, 2012, in How ThingsWork series, Rosen/Power KidsPressWe get some electricity frompower lines and some frombatteries. No matter what thesource, electricity can bedangerous so be careful. Do ascavenger hunt in your home andlist the things that are or can beplugged into electrical outlets.Then add to the list your gadgetsthat are battery-powered. Want todo more? Follow the directionsto make a circuit game or anelectromagnet.A Project Guide to Electricity andMagnetism by Colleen Kessler,2012, in Physical ScienceProjects for Kids series, MitchellLaneYou've probably heard ofFranklin and Edison but whatabout Ampere, Volta, andOersted? Learn how theirexperiments might help you makeyour own discoveries. Gathersome balloons, bulbs, andbatteries. Find some magnets andmodeling clay. Maybe add someiron filings and aluminum foil.Now invite an adult and you areready to start your ownelectrifying projects.Who Really DiscoveredElectricity? by Amie JaneLeavitt, 2011, in Fact Findersseries, Capstone PressWas it Benjamin Franklin inPhiladelphia, or one of theEnglishmen Dr. William Gilbertor Stephen Gray who firstdiscovered electricity? All threewere experimenting withmagnetism, friction, and sparks.In the end, it was Gilbert who iscredited with the discovery andwho gave it the name electricity.You Wouldn't Want to Work onthe Hoover Dam! An ExplosiveJob You'd Rather Not Do by IanGraham, 2012, Scholastic/Franklin WattsHave you ever heard of theHoover Dam on the ColoradoRiver? First named the BoulderDam, it began as a way to supplywater to dry areas of Nevada andto protect against floods. It alsomakes electricity. It is one of thebiggest hydroelectric plants in theworld. Building the dam soundsElectricity by Joseph Midthun,2012, in Building Blocks ofScience series, World BookElectricity is a cartoon-likecharacter who charges throughthis book. He tells you aboutelectrical signals in your bodyand about static and currentelectricity. Learn about circuits,Continued on next pageSpigot Science - http://www.spigotscience.com 32 Electricity

Library ConnectionElectricity Book Reviews, continuedconductors, switches, andinsulators. Challenge yourfriends to discover ways to reducethe electricity we use every day.Electricity by Felicia Law, 2009,in Simply Science series, GarethStevens PublishingHave you ever had a poweroutage at home? What did youuse for light? Imagine this: anelectric eel can light as many as12 light bulbs! When hurricaneSandy hit the East Coast of theUnited States, people there had tothink of ways to get alongwithout power for lights, heat,cooking, and more. Investigatesome of the ways peoplemanaged without electricity.What would your family do?How Does a Waterfall BecomeElectricity? by Mike Graf, 2009,in How Does it Happen? series,RaintreeFrom Iceland to Zimbabwethere are beautiful and powerfulwaterfalls all over the world. Thehighest is Angel Falls inVenezuela. Waterwheels wereused early to provide power.Today huge dams like the ThreeGorges Dam in China make itpossible to generate hydroelectricpower. Water power is a greatresource but it has some harmfulenvironmental effects as well.Get a map or a globe and locatethe most famous hydroelectricplants in the world.The Shocking World of Electricitywith Max Axiom by LiamO’Donnell, 2007, in GraphicScience series, Capstone PressMax Axiom is a super hero.At his home, he experiences staticelectricity like you probably haveat yours. Now he's on a missionto learn about the electricity that'sall around him. First, he shrinkshimself to the size of an atom tolook at electrons that haveelectrical charges. Then, hefollows wires, circuits, andturbines as electricity moves.I’ve Discovered Electricity byBritt Norlander, 2009, in Eurekaseries, Marshall CavendishMeet William Gilbert whofirst used the term electric. Trymaking some lightning like BenFranklin used to invent thelightning rod. Find out whatGalvani, Faraday, Edison, andWatt discovered as theyexperimented with electricity.Then make your own discoverieswith simple household materials.Circuits & Conductors by PeterRiley, 2008, in Essential Scienceseries, Smart Apple MediaTest your knowledge ofcircuits and conductors. See whatyou know about the symbolselectricians use to design circuits.Count the push, rocker, andpressure switches in your home orschool. Which did you find themost often? What materials areconductors? Insulators?Compare the watts (power) usedfor the electrical devices in yourroom. Now use your newknowledge to be safe withelectricity.Eyewitness Electricity by SteveParker, 2005, DK PublishingWhat does the fossil amberhave to do with electricity? Haveyou ever seen a wind farm or asolar field? How would your lifebe different without electricity?Where does the InternationalSpace Station get electricity?Who was president of the UnitedStates when the White House wasfirst wired for electricity? Whynot take a trip to learn more aboutelectricity? Try a sciencemuseum in your own area.Continued on next pageSpigot Science - http://www.spigotscience.com 33 Electricity

Library ConnectionElectricity Book Reviews, continuedFlicker, Flash by Joan BransfieldGraham, 1999, Houghton MifflinIt could be the flicker of acandle or a flash of lightning. Itcould be Edison's light bulb or abright spotlight. Or evensomething as small as arefrigerator light or as large as alighthouse. Experience theseFlicker, Flash concrete poemsand then create your owncollection.The Lightbulb by Joseph Wallace,1999, AtheneumCandles, oil lamps, and firesall provided light before ThomasAlva Edison invented the lightbulb. Now you can go to a storeand discover a whole variety ofbulbs. There are halogen, CFL(compact fluorescent) LED (lightemittingdiode), incandescent,and more. Learn all aboutEdison's invention and see howfar we've come.Dr. Richwine has been a curriculumdirector and an associate professor atGeorgian Court University.PonderIf you were going to writea book about electricity,which topics would youinclude?Answers to What Do You Knowabout Electricity, p. 15l. C 2. B 3. C 4. A 5. B6. A 7. C 8. A 9. C 10. AAnswers to Calculate kWH, page181. 1.2 kWH2. 1.44 kWH3. a. 43.2 kWHb. 525.6 kWHAnswers to Challenge, page 181. 480 W2. 14400 W14.4 kWH3. $1.44 per month$17.28 per yearReading TipReading isn’t the firstthing students orteachers think aboutwhen they think about science.Perhaps that’s a good thing sincescience is such a hands-onsubject.But science is a languageintensivearea of study. It isfilled with difficult andspecialized vocabulary that somestudents find challenging. Tofully understand scienceconcepts, students mustunderstand the vocabulary thatdefines them.So when we approach howwe will teach a new scienceconcept, we need to keepvocabulary high on our “to do”list so we can be assured thatstudents will able to not only dothe experiments and activities butthey will also be able to explainthe concept using the correctvocabulary.Answers to Word Ladder, p. 23bulb, bull, hull, hill, hilt, silt, salt,malt, molt, voltPurchaseLibrary Connection BooksGo to the Library Connection section of the Spigot web site and youwill be able to purchase books that are reviewed in this and all issues ofSpigot Science. Just log in, go to the Library Connection, and click onthe book you want.Spigot Science - http://www.spigotscience.com 34 Electricity

Spigot Sciencefor Kids and ClassroomsTap intoLearningSpigot Science - http://www.spigotscience.com 35 Electricity