Electricity - Spigot Science

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