52 UNIT4

ELECTRICITY
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STORYTIME

Read and listen to part 3 of the story Full of energy.

The children are in Science class sharing what they found out at home.

Emily, it's your turn

found out what sources of energy we use to mate

electricity! The green parts show renewable energy sources.
The red and blue parts show non-renewable sources.

This will be great Why don't we start I see ijou've got some good
for our report, Emilij! wíth this information? ideas already. Why don't you
write them down?

Lefs do that! Then, I can

tell you what I found
out about solar energy.

ABOUTTHESTORY

Read and discuss.

O What does Emily's electricity bill show?

O Do the children show that they care about each other's ideas? Why or why not?

O Do you think they are working well together? Share with your partner ideas
to work well in a group.
 ELECTRICITY 53

ADTHEWORLD

Read the poster for a talk about light pollution.

THE NIGHT SKY IS DISAPPEARING What can you do to reduce light pollution?
Why do the stars seem brighter in the countryside • Only use garden lights when it is necessary.
than in the cities? Thafs because light pollution
• Use warmer (yellow) light bulbs, not blue or white.
makes it seem like there are fewer stars in the sky.
• Point lights downwards, not upwards.
Light pollution is too much artificial lighting in a place
at night. • Do not use outdoor lights in birds' migratory
periods.
Why is light pollution a problem? • Turn off lights when leaving a room.
• It changes the sleep patterns of mammals, birds,
fish and insects.

• It affects bats' night visión.

• A brighter night makes it easier for some creatures

to become prey.

• It affects humans' visión.

• We can't see the night sky.

O Read and answer the following questions.

a What is light pollution?

b How does light pollution affect humans?
c How does light pollution affect other living things?
d What things can be done to reduce light pollution?
O ® With your partner, discuss how the poster makes you feel. Nave
you ever thought of this problem before? Would you be interested
in doing something to reduce light pollution? What could you do?

tí
Use the / used to think, Now I think thinking routine to answer
these questions about the unit.
How does electricity
reach our homes?
What are the sources
of electrical energy?

-y
54 UNIT4

What is electricity?

Electricity is a form of energy that we use to power electrical devices and

machines. O ® In pairs, take turns
to define thewords
Electricity is found in nature, for example in lighting, but it also can be
below without saying
produced from renewable and non-renewable energy sources.
them. Your partner
should guess the word.
O Electrical charges atom; electrón; protón;
All matter is made up oftiny particles called atoms. Atoms are composed neutrón; negative
ofthree smaller particles: protons, neutrons and electrons. charge; positíve charge;
attract; repel.

Protons and neutrons

form the nucleus of an
atom.
"%^ Electrons move
• Protons have a
around the nucleus
positive electrical
and have a negative
charge.
electrical charge.
• Neutrons have
no charge.

Atoms usually have the same number ofprotons and electrons. This
means that they are electrically neutral. If an atom gains orloses
electrons, it becomes electrically charged.

• If an atom gains electrons, it will have more negative charges than

positive ones. The atom will have a negative charge.

• If an atom loses electrons, it will have fewer negative charges than

positive ones. The atom will have a positive charge.

Electrically charged objects can move towards one another (attract) or

move away from each other (repel).

Objects with
opposíte
electrical
charges attract
each other.
Objects with the
same electrical
charge repel each
other.
 ELECTRICITY 55

Electrical conductors and insulators

gome materials, such as copper, silver or

aluminium, allow electricity to travel through
them. They are electrical conductors.

Other materials, such as plastic, paper and

wood, do not allow electricity to travel through
them. They are electrical insulators.

A Electrical wires are made of copper

Types of electricity and are usually covered in plastic to
make them safe.
There are two types of electricity: static electricity and dynamic or
current electricity.

Static electricity
It is a form of electricity that does not flow.

A Lightning is a giant spark A Rubbing a balloon on your

of electricity in the atmosphere. hair creates static electricity. This
This is a natural discharge happens because the electrons
of the static electricity move from your hair to the balloon,
accumulated in clouds during which causes the balloon to
thunderstorms.
® In pairs, think about
become attracted to your hair.
times when you have
experienced static
electridty, for example,
Dynamic or current electricity when brushing your
hair. Tell your partner
There is a flow of electrons through electrical conductors.
what happened.

Listen to the

< Electricity can flow conversation. Put the

from a socket though topics in the correct
the wires in a cable to order: electrical
a device, such as a charges; composition
mobile phone, and ofan atom; energy
charge it. sources.
56 UNIT4

Electrical circuits
Current electricity flows through electrical circuits. These are closed
paths with no gaps.

A simple electric circuit is made up of four components: an energy

source, a load, a conductor and a switch.

An energy A switch opens the

source, such as circuit (allowing
batteries, provides electricity to flow)
the energy. or clases the circuit

Batteries have a
(stopping the flow).
positive and
negative terminal.

^--'

A conductor, such as A load, such as a light

a copper wire, allows bulb, converts electricity
electricity to pass into a different form of
through it. energy.

The uses of electricity

Electricity is used to power a variety of devices and appliances, such
as lights, TVs, computers, fridges and ovens. We also use electricity
to power cars and buses and manufacture the producís we need
in our daily lives.

We use electricity:

• athome

• in the places where we work and study

• m transportation

• inindustry.

O ® In pairs, discuss what you think are the most important

uses of electricity in your homes.

Listen to the conversation. What does the teacher want

the dass to do? What can the pupils do to troubleshoot
problems with a circuit?
 ELECTRICITY 57

What are the sources of electrical energy?

Electricity that arrives in our homes can be generated from

^
non-renewable or renewable energy sources.

Non-renewable energy sources Renewable energy sources

Burning fossil fuels in thermal power plants Solar panels, wind turbines and
or splitting the atoms of uranium in nuclear hydroelectric plants collect the energy ofthe
power plants generales steam. Sun, wind and water and pass it to a turbine
which spins a generator. This converts the
The steam moves a turbine connected to a
energy from the different energy sources into
generator which converts the kinetic energy
electricity.
into electricity.

A thermal power plant A solar panels and wind turbines

Other sources of electrical energy

• Rubbing two objects against each other, for example a plastic pen on a
jumper, can créate static electricity by friction. The electrons from
one of the objects will pass on to the other object and it will become
positively charged. The other object will be negatively
charged.

• A battery, such as those found in a car, a mobile

phone or a laptop, stores chemical energy.
A chemical reaction can convert this energy ® In pairs, think about
into electrical energy. the other sources of
electrical energy.
Would they be good
Electromagnetism is the magnetism created when electricity for generating
flows through magnetic metáis. The magnetism only lasts while electricity in our daily
the electric current is switched on. I ¡ves? Why or why not?
58 UNIT4

How does electricity reach our homes?

O The transmission of electrical energy is the process of moving it

from one place to another place until it enters our homes.

1. Electricity is generated
from non-renewable or
renewable sources in
nuclear power plants,
thermal power plants,
hydroelectric plants, etc.

2. The electricity goes to a

substation where a
transformer increases
the voltage (the pressure
which pushes electricity).

3. High-voltage power
lines carry electricity
over long distances.

4. From the high-voltage

power Unes, the electricity
goes to a substation to 5. The electricity leaves the 6. The electricity enters our
reduce the voltage to a substation and goes to homes.

safe level. electricity providers.

In Spain, the power plug sockets O ® In pairs, think of

are type F. There are many types electrical hazards and
ofplugs in the worid. This means safety precautions
that when we travel abroad we when using electrical
might need an adapter. devices at home.
 ELECTRICITY 59

What is a robot? D
A robot is a machine that can be programmed to do some tasks
to make our lives easier. Even though some robots are made to look O ® Some people think
like humans, humans can control them. that robots will take
over human Jobs.
Robots usually need electrical energy to function.
Discussthis in pairs,
Robotics is the branch of engineering which design and constructs then share your
robots. opinionswith other
groups. What do your
Robots in our lives classmates think?

Robots have different functions and can be used in different places:

at home, in hospitals, in industry, at work, in space, etc. There are even
robots that we we can use in our free time.

A vacuum cleaner robot A robotic legs

A Industrial welding robot A space research robot

Advantages of robots Disadvantages of robots

• Robots can save time. • Robots can be expensive.

• They can do repetitive tasks quickly. • They need power.

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• They can be used in surgery. • They can cause people to lose ^::,:,:
^k
theirjobs.
• They can do dangerous Jobs.
They can break down or malfunction.
• They do not need breaks when working.
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68 UNIT4

LñNGUñGE CORNER
'S

Time to speak
SPEAKING TIP
O Imagine if you had no home, no electricity If I had no (home}, I would (ha ve to) ...
and no running water. What would your life be like?
If I didn't have (electridty), I wouldn't...
How would you feel? Discuss with your partner.
Use the pictures to help you. My life would be ...

I would feel...
<, ^

r".

Time to listen
O Listen to three people talk about access to deán water. Por each
question, choose the correct answer.

1 Jemal said his parents ... 5 Jonathon said governments and

a were from Eritrea. organisations...

b moved to Eritrea. a would provide homes, hospitals

and schools with deán water.
c travelled to Eritrea often.
b would develop new public services
2 Jemal said that his cousin...
buildings.
a wanted to swim in the river.
c would fínd ways to use more
b couldn't go to school because he was ill. rainwater.

c contaminated the water in the stream.

6 To save water, Jonathon said we...

3 Catherine said many people ... a could take shorter showers.

a wanted to visit áreas with access to deán b could filter salt water.
water.
c could save rainwater.
b couldn't get access to deán water.

c drank water f rom rivers.

4 Catherine said that over 800 children died LISTENING TIP

every day... It is alright not to know all the answers
a because of overpopulation. the first time; you can check your
answers again the second time you
b after getting sick from dirty water.
listen.
c from dehydration.
r ELECTRICITY 61
^
SCIENCE NORKSHOP
TESTING STñTIC ELECTRICITY
Materials:
Observe
• water
In pairs, look at the photo and answer the questions
• balloon
a what can you see in the photo?
• stnng
b What is happening to the water?
• woollyjumper

• pen

• paper

Ask a question

Why do you think the balloon moves the water?

Créate your hypothesis

Think about what happens when you rub a pencil on a woollyjumper

and pick up some pieces of paper.

Test

O Turn on the tap. Observe how the water is flowing.

O Rub the balloon with the woollyjumper.

O Place the balloon near the water. Observe what happens to

the water now.

ü Move the balloon closer to the water then move it away.

What happens to the water?

Make conclusions

Think about the two types of electricity. Which type of electricity

Use short pauses to emphasise
could this be? Why? important ideas and to give the
Why do you think the water bends? audience time to understand
your message.
Present your conclusions.
 c^
64 UNIT4

O UISUñL SUNNñRY

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to represent difficult concepts
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