Unit 5: Electricity and Magnetism
Are You Ready?, pages 500–501
1. Answers may vary. Sample answer:
Some energy transformations that can be used to
produce electrical energy are a hydroelectric power
plant transforming the kinetic energy of moving
water into electrical energy; a solar cell
transforming radiant energy into electrical energy;
and a nuclear power plant transforming nuclear
energy into electrical energy.
2. Answers may vary. Sample answer:
Electrical energy is useful because it can be used
to run electric lights so we can see what we are
doing. It can also be used to run many time saving
machines such as refrigerators, electric stoves, and
washers and driers, and machines we use for
entertainment, such as televisions and computers.
3. (a) Electric current is the movement of charged
particles.
(b) Electrons are the charged particles involved in
electric current.
(c) The two different types of current electricity
are direct current (DC) and alternating current
(AC).
4. Answers may vary. Sample answers:
(a) An automotive battery has an electric potential
difference.
(b) A typical automotive battery has an electric
potential difference of 12 volts.
5. The electrical resistance of an object refers to
how difficult it is for electric current to flow in the
object.
6. Answers may vary. Sample answer:
Some things that have a high resistance are a
plastic rod, a rubber ball, and an electric heater
element. The plastic rod and rubber ball are both
insulators so they have high resistances, and an
electric heater element has a high resistance to
convert electrical energy into thermal energy.
Some things that have a low resistance are a metal
wire, water containing a dissolved substance, and a
superconductor. They are all conductors so they
have low resistances.
7. A conductor has a low resistance because it
allows electric current to flow freely through it.
Copyright  2011 Nelson Education Ltd.
8. Answers may vary. Sample answers:
(a)
(b)
9. Circuit A best fits the description of a series
circuit because all its parts are connected in exactly
one complete path.
10. Answers may vary. Sample answer:
Some renewable energy sources are solar energy,
hydroelectricity, geothermal energy, wind energy,
tidal energy, and biofuels. Some non-renewable
energy sources are fossil fuels and nuclear energy.
11. Answers may vary. Samples answers:
(a) Conventional methods of electricity generation
are coal burning, hydroelectricity, and oil burning.
Alternative methods of electricity generation are
photovoltaic cells, wind energy, and nuclear
energy.
(b) For the conventional method of
hydroelectricity, a benefit to the environment is
low atmospheric emissions and pollution, and a
disadvantage is that damming rivers may flood
land and disrupt ecosystems.
For the alternative method of wind energy, a
benefit to the environment is that wind turbines
can be placed in areas where they will have a low
impact on the surrounding ecosystem, and a
disadvantage is that the wind turbines may still
strike birds and other wildlife.
12. Ohm’s law states that the voltage in a
conductor is proportional to the current, so for an
electrical device to obey Ohm’s law its voltage
must increase linearly as the current increases.
Graph (b) best describes this situation.
13. When two like magnetic poles are brought near
one another the magnets will repel each other.
14. (a) Each part of the circuit is being connected
directly to the following part with no extra
connections so the students have created a series
circuit.
Unit 5: Electricity and Magnetism U5-1
(b) The source of electrical energy is the DC The slope of the line of best fit represents the
power supply, the load is the motor, the conducting resistance of the resistor. The resistance is 120 Ω.
wires are the leads, and the control device is the (c) Answers may vary. Sample answer:
switch.
15. (a) lamp
(b) resistor
(c) connecting wire
(d) battery
(e) open switch
16. (a)

The new line shows a resistance of 60 Ω.

V
(b) If both switches were closed, the circuit would 18. (a) Given: R =
I
be closed so electric current would flow. The
electric current would be free to pass through both Rearranging:
parallel paths so both lamps would light. V
R=
(c) If both switches were open, the circuit would I
be open so no electric current would flow and V! I
R! I =
neither lamp would light. I
(d) If one switch was closed, the circuit would be V = IR
closed so electric current would flow. The electric The equation solved for V is V = IR.
current would only be free to pass through the V
parallel path in which the switch was closed, so (b) Given: R =
I
only the one lamp on this path would light. Rearranging:
17. Answers may vary. Sample answer: V
(a) R=
I
V! I
R! I =
I
IR = V
IR V
=
R R
V
I=
R
V
The equation solved for I is I = .
R
(c) I is proportional to V and inversely proportional
to R, so I depends on V and R.
(b) For example, the line of best fit passes through 19. (a) Given: 14 = 7 + X + 2
the data points (0.033, 4.0) and (0.066, 8.0). These Solving for X:
points can be used to find the slope as follows: 14 = 7 + X + 2
rise 14 ! 7 ! 2 = 7 + X + 2 ! 7 ! 2
slope =
run
!V
5= X
m= The variable X is 5.
!I
8.0 V " 4.0 V
=
0.066 A " 0.033 A
m = 120 !

Copyright  2011 Nelson Education Ltd. Unit 5: Electricity and Magnetism U5-2
 1 1 1
(b) Given: = +
X 7 3
Solving for X:
1 1 1
= +
X 7 3
1 3 7
= +
X 21 21
1 10
=
X 21
X 21
=
1 10
21
X=
10
21
The variable X is , which is 2.1 as a decimal
10
number.

Copyright  2011 Nelson Education Ltd. Unit 5: Electricity and Magnetism U5-3