a metal wire, charges flow through the wire ACTIVITY 1

for a short while, till the two electroscopes

(Making a model)
are similarly charged. It is observed that only
a tester for
nductors and To mak
negative charges (electrons) flow through the
Make
and a
an electric circuit
bulb connected consisting
through insula insulator,
wire. Positive charges (protons) remain fixed copper wires as shown. Touch ating
the
and do not flow. the wire together for a fraction free
of a
The movement of electrons constitutes an If the bulb glows, your tester Second.
is
electric current. To make an electric current working. If it does not glow, checkreadu
dy and
the connections and the heck the wires,
the
flow continuously, two things are necessary. battery one
by One to
see where the problem lies.
Firstly, a continuous, unbroken path or circuit
You can test different
is needed for the current to flow through. For substances by
connecting them to the two free endea
this, copper wire is generally used as it 15 a
the wire (Fig. 15.1). If the bulb
good conductor. A switch is inserted in the glows,
substance is a conductor. If it does the
not
circuit to make or break the circuit as required. qlow, the substance is an insulator.
Try the
Secondly, we also need a driving force called experiment with a piece of wood, an iron nai
electromotive force to push the electrons an aluminium spoon, the lead of a
pencil.
that carry the charge around the circuit. This paper, cloth, an eraser and a plastic spoon,
is provided by an electric cell or a generator.

Direction of electric current SUBSTANCE

BEING
We know that electrons flow from a body that has TESTED
an excess of electrons to one that has a deficit uvecen
of electrons, i.e. from a body that is negatively
a. A tester for conductors b. Circuit diagram
charged to a body that is positively charged. and insulators for the tester
Earlier, scientists thought that electric FiG. 15.1
current is the flow of positive charge from a
positively-charged body toa negatively-charged are insulators. We can test for conductorsar:
body. They, therefore, took this as the direction insulators in the following way.
of flow of current. So far, you have used the tester tote
Today, we consider the flow of conventional electrical conductivity in solids. Let us n
Current to be from positive to negative and the use the tester to see if electricity can aso pas
flow of electronic current to be from negative through liquids.
to positive.
ACTIVITY 2 (Experimental
investigation): To observe
CONDUCTION THROUGH LIQUIDS
As you have read earlier, certain substances Conduction of electricity through
water and other liquids
such as metals allow electric current to flow You can test different liquids for their eleu
two h
are conductors of electric
through them. They
current. Iron, brass,
conductivity by connecting them to the
ends of the wires of your tester. If the bulogglows
aluminium, copper,
graphite etc., are conductors. Air, wood, the liquid conducts electricity. Try this exp
suga
paper, cloth, rubber or plastic do not allow with distilled water, tap water, salt solut
electric current to flow through them. They solution, lime juice, vinegar and honey.

190 HOW THINGS WORK