Electrical Energy Transfer — Reading Comprehension

Imagine you have a flashlight. When you turn it on, a light comes on and the bulb gets warm. Where does all that energy come from? The answer is electrical energy! It's a type of energy that comes from the movement of tiny particles called electrons. When these electrons move together in a line, they create an electric current, which can be sent from one place to another. This movement and transfer of energy is what makes our appliances work.

Energy is the ability to do work or cause change. Electrical energy is very useful because it can be easily transferred and changed into other forms of energy. To get electrical energy from one place to another, we need a path. This path is called a circuit. A simple circuit has three main parts: a power source (like a battery), wires to carry the electricity, and a device that uses the electricity (like a light bulb).

Let's look at the simple circuit with a battery and a light bulb. The battery is the power source. It stores chemical energy and changes it into electrical energy. The wires are the path that the electrical energy travels on. The light bulb is the device that uses the energy. When you connect all the parts, the electrical energy flows from the battery, through the wires, and into the light bulb.

Inside the light bulb, there is a very thin wire called a filament. As the electrical energy flows through this tiny wire, it has to squeeze through a very small space. This makes the particles in the wire rub against each other, causing them to move faster and get very, very hot. This is how the electrical energy is transferred and changed into two other kinds of energy: light energy (which makes the room bright) and heat energy (which makes the bulb warm to the touch). This shows us that energy is never created or destroyed, but it can be changed from one form to another.

So, the next time you turn on a light, remember that you are seeing a great example of energy transfer and transformation!

Fun Fact: A single lightning bolt can contain enough electrical energy to power a home for a whole month!

What are the tiny particles that move to create electrical energy?

What is the path that electrical energy travels on called?

Based on the passage, what is the main purpose of the wires in a circuit?

What is the chemical energy in a battery transformed into when the circuit is complete?

Why does the filament inside a light bulb get very hot?

You have a flashlight that is not working. The battery is full, but the light won't turn on. Based on the passage, what is a likely problem?

A student is building a circuit with a battery, a switch, and a small fan. When the switch is flipped, what kind of energy transformation is happening?

Why is it important that the wires inside your walls are covered in plastic?