(humming)
(zip)
(roar)
(crackling of fire)
- [Voiceover] It can
be difficult to imagine
life without electricity, can't it?
(upbeat electronic music)
(clicking of switches)
We find ourselves surrounded
by electricity every day.
Every time you switch on your TV,
listen to your headphones,
or use a toaster,
you use electricity.
Electricity is a force
caused by an electric charge.
When the charge moves, it
provides a form of energy
which we can use to power
devices and make them work.
Sometimes, you access electricity
by plugging an appliance
into your wall and using the
electricity from power lines.
And sometimes you access
it by using batteries
that store the energy for you
to use until they run out.
For your games, computers, and toys
that require electricity to work,
they need to be part of a circuit.
A circuit is like a big electrical loop.
In order for the circuit to work,
the whole loop must be complete.
Imagine you are riding your bike.
In order to move forward, you
need to continue pedalling
so that the chains keep
spinning your wheels
to move you forward.
Now just imagine that
this chain is broken.
The bike would stop moving
and you may fall off.
(crash)
This is a bit like how a circuit works.
Let's look at the circuit
needed to turn a lightbulb on.
Once plugged in, a current flow
pushes an electrical charge
around the circuit,
activating the lightbulb.
But if any part of the circuit was broken,
the electrical charges would not be able
to flow through the circuit and the light
would stop working.
This is also what happens
when you use a switch.
Imagine that in this circuit,
you also used a switch
to turn your lightbulb on.
You can plug it in your
powerpoint and turn the switch on.
The current of the electric charge
will turn the lightbulb on.
But look what happens when
you turn the switch off.
The circuit is open, which
turns the lightbulb off.
This happens because a circuit
needs to be complete for electricity
to work in an appliance.
Electricity can be very dangerous,
so it's helpful to know
how to protect ourselves
whilst using it.
Electricity travels through materials
that are easy to flow
through, called conductors.
Metal is a good conductor,
because the electrical charges
move through it very fast.
(mellow electronic music)
Because electricity
moves through conductors,
it's very dangerous to
touch any metal parts
while an appliance is being used.
Water also conducts
electricity very easily.
This makes bringing electrical equipment
like music players or games
near water incredibly dangerous.
(buzz)
(crash of thunder)
We protect ourselves from electricity
by using what we call insulators.
Insulators are materials
that do not conduct
electricity and so are safe to touch.
Rubber, for example, is a good insulator.
We use rubber coatings around power cords
as an insulator, because
it stops the electricity
from escaping, which prevents
you from being electrocuted.
Electricity is everywhere
and helps us to do
many things for survival and enjoyment.
But it's also important to remember
that although electricity can power
many exciting devices,
there are many other ways
we can have fun unplugged.
(upbeat electronic music)
(humming)
(zips)
