1. CHAPTER 13 SECTION 2

2. electric current
•continuous flow of electric
charges through
a material

3. conductor
•material in which a charge
can flow easily
•ex. copper, silver

4. insulator
•charges not able to move
freely
•ex: plastic, wood

5. electric circuit
• complete,
unbroken
path through
which electric
charges can
flow

6. resistance
• measure of how difficult it is for
charges to flow through a material

7. series
circuit
only 1
path
for current
to take
advantage disadvantages
simple to
build
if 1 light goes
out-
all go out
more bulbs
added-
greater resistance

8. seriesseries
circuitcircuit

9. several paths
for current
to take
advantage
more branches
added-
decreased
resistance
if 1 light
goes out-
other stay lit

10. householdhousehold
circuits-circuits-
parallelparallel
circuitscircuits

12. What happens when an electric
current is produced?
• a continuous flow of charges
travel through a material

13. Contrast electric current and
static electricity.
• An electric current is a
continuous flow of charge.
In static electricity, charges
build up but do not flow.

14. Explain why electric current
cannot exist if an electric circuit is
broken.
• charges cannot flow because
the path is not complete

15. Define conductor and insulator.
• conductor = material through which
charges can flow through easily
• insulator = material through which
charges cannot flow through easily