Vocabulary
Grade 6
Electricity
Static Electricity
Electricity that does not move
Prosthesis
An artificial body part
Batteries
One or a number of electric cells connected together that supply energy
Renewable Energy Resources
A source of energy that can be used over and over or replaced.
Hydroelectricity
Electricity generated by the force of water
Generator
A device that creates electricity from its spinning.
Reservoir
The water that is blocked by a dam.
Solar Energy
The energy from the sun.
Passive Solar Heating
Collection and use of free heat energy from the Sun.
Active Solar Heating
Solar Energy used in conjunction with other electrical devices to create heat.
Geothermal energy
Heat trapped under Earth’s surface.
Water Pollution
The effect on lakes and streams of an increase in the temperature of groundwater, or of contamination by chemicals.
Heat Exchange
A process of heating that depends on the difference in temp above and below ground;heat pumps transfer warm air in winter and cool in summer by tubes under Earth.
Noise Pollution
Negative effect of noise from windmill blades on those living close by.
Biomass
Any plant or animal material that can be safely burned and makes a good fuel.
Biomass Energy Generation
A process that reuses organic material to produce energy by burning the biomass to create steam in an electricity generator.
Non-renewable Energy
A source of energy that can only be used once and cannot be replaced.
Fossil Fuels
The organic remains of plants and animals; fuels took millions of years to form.
Nuclear Energy
The energy produced by the breakdown of the smallest units of matter; the heat produced turns the water into steam, which generates nuclear power plants.
Coal
A fossil fuel that can be burned to make electricity or used to make other products.
Current Electricity
Electricity that moves or “flows”
Circuit
An arrangement of electrical devices that allows electricity to flow through conductors
Electrical Energy
Energy produced by a current flowing through a wire or other object.
Source
The item that provides electricity to a circuit.
Path
The parts of a circuit that the electricity moves through
Load
An item that changes electrical energy into something usable. Ex. light energy
Transformations
The processes where electricity changes into another form of energy.
Light-emitting diode (LED)
A durable, efficient device that converts energy into light.
Conductors
Materials that allow electricity to pass through them.
Insulators
Material that does not allow electricity to pass through them.
Electricity
A form of energy that can flow through conductors.
Wire
Any conducting material that carries electricity; usually a thin thread of metal that can carry electricity.
Primary Cell
A non-rechargeable battery
Secondary Cell
A rechargeable battery
Switch
A device that controls the flow of electricity by breaking or completing a circuit.
Fuse
A special kind of safety switch that cannot be turned back on.
Troubleshooting
The process of discovering and eliminating causes of a problem. (fix)
Magnetism
The process of discovering and eliminating causes of a problem. (fix)
Magnetism
The force around a magnet
Magnetic Poles
The two ends of a magnet where the magnetic force is strongest
Magnetic Force
The force that acts between two magnets by pulling them together or pushing them away from each other
Permanent Magnet
A magnet that stays magnetized for a long period of time
Temporary Magnet
A magnet that can turn its magnetism on and off
Electromagnets
Temporary magnets made of an iron bar with coils of wire around it; act as magnets when electricity flows through the wire coils
Fair Test
An experiment in which all variables are controlled (kept at the same value) except the one under investigation
Independent Variable
In an experiment, something that can be changed by the experimenter to produce an effect
Commutator
The part of an electromagnet that changes the direction of the electrical current and so changes the poles of the electromagnet
Series Circuit
A path of electrical current that passes through each part of a circuit and traces a single path back to the start. A path that has one way.
Parallel Circuit
A path of electrical current that has more than one loop in a circuit.
Watts
The units of measurement of the amount of electricity used by a device.
Kilowatts
The units of measurement of the amount of electricity used a device.
Kilowatts hours
A unit of measure of the amount of electricity used over time.
Fibre Optics Communications
Communication by means of light signal along thin glass fibres.