Magnetism and Electricity Glossary

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Magnetism and Electricity

Glossary Attract: To pull toward one another, as opposite poles of two magnets pull toward one another. Battery: A source of electricity with more than one cell. Circuit: A pathway for the flow of electricity. Circuit base: Something that holds many components needed to build a circuit. Closed circuit: A complete circuit through which electricity flows. Code: A set of signals that represents letters or words for sending messages. Coil: Wire wound repeatedly around a central core. Compass: An instrument that uses a freely moving magnetic needle to indicate direction. Component: An individual item in a circuit. Conductor: A substance, commonly a metal such as copper or aluminum, through which electricity will flow. Core: The material around which a coil is wound. Current: The flow of electricity through a conductor. D-cell: A source of electricity; also known as a battery. Detector: Something that helps you identify or locate something. Electricity: A form of energy that can produce light, heat, and magnetism. Electricity receiver : A component that uses the electricity from a source to make something happen.

Electricity source: Something that provides electric energy to make something happen. Electromagnet: A piece of iron that becomes a temporary magnet when electricity flows through an insulated wire wrapped around it. Fahnstock clip: A metal clip that connects wires in a circuit. Filament: The material in a light bulb usually a thin wire! that glows when heated by an electric current. Force: A push or a pull. Gap: The space between a steel strip and an electromagnet. Graph: Something that organi"es data visually to show a relationship between two things. Induced magnetism: The influence of a permanent magnet#s magnetic field on a piece of iron, which makes the iron act like a magnet. Insulator: A material that prevents the flow of electricity, commonly plastic, rubber, glass, or air. Intersection: The point at which two lines cross. Key: A switch that completes the circuit in a telegraph system. ightning: A flash of light caused by a discharge of static electricity between two clouds or from a cloud to the $arth. odestone: A form of the mineral magnetite that is naturally magnetic or has become magneti"ed. ong-distance: Something that is far away. !agnet: An ob%ect that sticks to iron. !agnetism: A property of certain kinds of materials that causes them to attract iron or steel.

"pen circuit: An incomplete circuit through which electricity will not flow. #arallel circuit: A circuit that splits into two or more pathways before coming together at the battery. #atent: A document granting the right to take credit for an invention. #ole: $ither of two opposing forces or parts, such as the poles of a magnet. #rediction: An educated guess based on data or previous e&perience. $epel: To push away, as similar poles of two magnets push away from one another. %chematic diagram: A way to represent a circuit on a piece of paper. %eries circuit: A circuit with only one pathway for current flow. %tatic electricity: 'ositive and negative electric charges that are separated from each other and are not moving. %&itch: A device used to open and close circuits. 'echnology: Applying the results of scientific research. 'elegraph: A device for sending coded messages by signals produced by closing and opening an electric circuit. 'emporary magnet: A piece of iron that behaves like a magnet when it is touching a permanent magnet.

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