About the Book
Electricity is a necessity in today's modern society. It allows us to check our email, watch a movie on the television set, or turn on a lamp at the flip of a switch. But how does electricity work? Atoms contain negatively charged particles called electrons. Electric energy from the electrons can be harnessed into currents that run through two types of circuits, series and parallel. Generators and different types of power plants produce the electricity needed to operate our technological world.
Review :
As part of an award-winning series, this offering maintains the high standard of scientific facts presented in an understandable text. Illustrations, photos, and brief fact boxes enhance the explanations.-- "Teacher Librarian"
Each of these volumes contains five or six chapters of varying length, punctuated with "Did you know" boxes, and an extensive resource list including books, Web sites, and museums. The concise chapters make for quick reading, and the bottom of each page has an interesting side note. The artwork is exciting and varied with photos, diagrams, and computerized images. Scientific principles aligned with the science standards for middle grades are explained with specific and appropriate vocabulary making the information both interesting and accessible, and could serve as an introduction to the curriculum or a review. The examples are designed to be interesting to students including things such as skydiving to explain weightlessness and car crashes to explain speed and force, as well as historical events. My seventh grade son also read these titles and commented that they were just like his science book last year except that they were more fun to read and the pictures were better. Highly Recommended.-- "Library Media Connection"
From contemporary issues, such as the greenhouse effect and genetics, to core curriculum themes such as atoms and molecules, and plant cells, the Exploring Science series covers subject matter aimed at making readers science literate. Each discipline is covered concisely using descriptive text and a variety of charts, diagrams, and striking photographs. Electrical circuits, for example, discusses how electricity works and how it is created and harnessed. Other book subjects include human body systems, plate tectonics, and the periodic table.-- "The Midwest Book Review"
Have you ever wondered why you get shocked after touching something when you have been scuffing your feet on the carpet? Have you ever experienced a string of Christmas lights going out when one bulb bursts? Have you ever wondered how batteries work? All of these questions and more are answered in this book, which is part of the "Exploring Science" series. Throughout the text, Dreier defines electricity, explains the process of electric currents, and the design and effectiveness of electrical circuits, citywide circuits, and household circuits. He also discusses the influences of notable inventors, such as Thomas Edison, George Westinghouse, and Nikola Tesla. The table of contents, glossary, fact page (entitled "Did you know?"), list of resources, and index organize the valuable information which is complemented by many pictures and charts to help readers visualize the concepts being discussed. This would be a beneficial addition to a middle school or science classroom's library collection.-- "Children's Literature"
This series presents brief, easy-to-understand, yet very substantive, introductions to physical science topics with kid-friendly examples, diagrams, and photos. In Electrical Circuits, a photo of a large electromagnet attracting a variety of scrap metal in a junkyard adds to the discussion of magnetism. In each book one page is devoted to each of the following: a glossary, "Did You Know," and further resources including books, a link and ID # for FactHound, and an index. 2008 Young Adult Top Forty Nonfiction Title-- "Pennsylvania School Librarians Association"
This straightforward introduction to electricity covers all the bases. It begins with what electricity is, how it appears in nature, and how it has been harnessed for public use. Atoms, the concept of electric charge, and magnetism are explained clearly, if rather dutifully. An interesting two-page sidebar explains how Thomas Edison and his DC current system were beat out by George Westinghouse, who purchased the AC system of Nikola Tesla. Dreier tries to make a complex subject more understandable by using familiar examples. For instance, to introduce the idea of a closed circuit, he encourages readers to "imagine a railroad track with no beginning or end." This helps, as does the book's clean format, illustrated with plenty of sharp, bright color photographs. The text also provides detailed information about circuity and switches, and good graphics that show the power cycle and how we receive electricity. Backmatter includes a glossary, a short bibliography, and a few Web sites.-- "Booklist"
This straightforward title in the Exploring Science: Physical Science series covers all the bases, including what electricity is, how it appears in nature, and how it has been harnessed for public use. Atoms, the concept of electric charge, and magnetism are explained clearly. Accompanied by sharp, bright color photos, the text also provides information about circuitry and switches.-- "Book Links, "Get Charged Up""
