Circuits

Yesterday we had to draw what we thought as circuit looked like. There were lots of interesting, pictures and words to describe our drawings! We then explored and found lots out about circuits. What a difference today! We all can draw a diagram of a circuit and label the parts.
Today we used the BBC resource to explore conductors and insulators. We had to predict what materials are insulators and which are conductors.

Conductors allow electricity flow through them. Conductors are materials that can carry electricity - they conduct electricity. We found out that the following materials are good conductors of electricity...
copper aluminium graphite iron steel

Our conclusion was that most metals are good conductors of electricity.

Did you know that water, platinum, silver, gold, people, animal & trees are also good conductors of electricity?

Insulators do not allow electricity to flow through them. These materials are good insulators...
wood plastic rubber glass cloth
Did you know that porcelain is also a good insulator?

Electricity will always take the shortest path to the ground. Your body is 60% water and that makes you a good conductor of electricity. If a power line has fallen on a tree and you touch the tree you become the path or conductor to the ground and could get electrocuted.

The rubber or plastic on an electrical cord provides an insulator for the wires. By covering the wires, the electricity cannot go through the rubber and is forced to follow the path on the aluminum or copper wires. ( from http://tristate.apogee.net/kids/lewc_ifrm.aspx)