Name ………………….
Electricity
Physics
Year 8
Start of After the End of topic
Objective topic lesson evaluation
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evaluation
Design and construct series and
parallel circuits involving cells,
lamps, switches (push button,)
Measure current using an
ammeter which is connected in
series in the circuit
State that the unit of current is
the ampere (amp)
Draw circuit diagrams using the
correct symbols to represent
the following: cell, terminals,
buzzer, lamp/bulb, motor,
switch, battery
State that currents add where
branches meet in circuits.
Recognise that the current in a
series circuit depends on the
number of cells and the number
and nature of other
components
Describe energy as a transfer
from batteries and other
sources to other components in
electrical circuits,
State that a battery or cell
transforms chemical energy
into electrical energy and that
electrical energy is converted
into other forms in electrical
components, Define resistance,
Describe the differences in
resistance between conducting
and insulating components.
Design and construct series and
parallel circuits involving cells,
lamps, switches (push button,
SPDT, reed), resistors, motors,
buzzers, LDRs, LEDs, fuses.
Construct AND and OR circuits
using switches and create truth
tables
State that a current in a coil
produces a magnetic field
pattern similar to that of a bar
magnet
Describe how electromagnets
are constructed using an iron
core and insulated wire.
Red = I can’t do it…yet!
Orange = I think I can do this but I will need to go over it again
Green = I am confident I can do this
What is electricity?
Electricity is the flow of electrons around a circuit which
carry electrical energy. This electrical energy is changed
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into various types of other energies such as light energy
(light bulb), heat energy (electric heater), sound energy
(speakers), etc. To do this it must be in a circuit which is
a closed loop of conducting wire (wire that allows
electricity to pass through easily) starting at the source (a
cell, battery, powerpack or plugged into the mains) and
going to various components.
Because there are lots of different shapes and sizes of
components we use a standard set of symbols for drawing
circuit diagrams. These are the components that you will
have learnt in year 6:
SYMBOLS
For the Common Entrance there are some more
components which we will learn about later.
Circuit diagrams
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This is a circuit. And this is the circuit diagram.
1 Draw circuit diagrams for these circuits. Make sure that you
show the cells the right way round.
3 What is wrong with the cells in circuit C?
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Investigating Bulb Brightness
1. a) Make a circuit with one cell and one bulb. This is ‘normal’
brightness.
b) Make a circuit with one cell and two bulbs.
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Compare how bright these bulbs are with the normal bulb
brightness.
Answer:____________________________________________________________
__
c) Explain your observations:
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__________________________
2. a) Make a circuit with two cells and one bulb. Compare how bright
the bulb is with the normal bulb brightness.
Answer:
____________________________________________________________________
________________________________________
c) Explain your observations:
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____________
3. a) Make a circuit with two cells and two bulbs. Compare how bright
the bulbs are with the normal bulb brightness.
Answer:
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________________________________________
c) Explain your observations:
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________________________________________
4. Draw a circuit diagram for questions 2 and 3. The symbol for two
cells (a battery) is:
Circuit for question 2 Circuit for question 3
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Extension:
Create a worksheet of your own about circuits. You could include;
Spot the incorrect circuit questions,
Drawing circuit diagrams from pictures (as above),
Match the symbol to the component.
Investigating Current
1. a) Build the circuit in the diagram shown:
b) The current is _______________ amps.
c) The bulb brightness is ______________.
d) Move the ammeter to new the position shown:
e) The current is ___________amps.
f) The bulb brightness is ______________.
g) Circle the option that best describes your results.
The current is the same/changes around a series circuit.
2. a) Build the circuit in the diagram shown:
b) The current is ____________amps.
c) The bulb brightness is ______________.
d) Circle the option that best describes your results.
The current has increased/decreased/doubled/halved
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compared to the first circuit.
3. a) Build the circuit in the diagram shown:
b) The current is ____________amps.
c) The bulb brightness is ______________.
d) Circle the option that best describes your results.
The current has increased/decreased/doubled/halved
compared to the first circuit.
e) Build the circuit in the diagram shown:
f) The bulb brightness is ______________.
g) The current is ________________amps.
h) Circle the option that best describes your
results.
The current has
increased/decreased/doubled/halved
compared to the first circuit.
Analysis: Thinking about your results
1. Do your results support your predictions?
____________________________________
2. a) Fill in the missing words using comparative
language: more, less, greater, fewer, increase, decrease etc.
b) Create a paragraph by sequencing and joining together these
statements:
Which therefore ____________ the current.
So they (the bulbs) are _____________.
So they (the bulbs) are _____________.
When you decrease the number of cells you ______________ the
voltage
When you increase the current there is ____________ energy for
the bulbs
When you increase the number of cells you _____________ the
voltage
Which therefore _____________ the current.
When you decrease the current there is _____________ energy
for the bulbs
When you increase the number of components they have to
SHARE the current so the current _____________ and therefore
the bulbs get ______________.
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Investigating Current in Parallel Circuits
1. a) Build the circuit in the diagram shown:
b) The current is _______________ amps.
c) The bulb brightness is ______________.
d) Move the ammeter to new the position shown:
e) The current is ___________amps.
f) The bulb brightness is ______________.
g) Circle the option that best describes your results.
The current in a parallel circuit is the
same/different depending on if the ammeter is
placed on the branches or the main circuit.
2. a) Build the circuit in the diagram shown:
b) Fill in the current on the diagram.
c) i) The current on the MAIN part of the
circuit has _____________ compared to the
first circuit. So the bulb brightness is
_____________.
c) ii) The current on each BRANCH has
____________ compared to the first circuit.
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3. a) Build the circuit in the diagram shown:
b) Fill in the current on the diagram..
c) i) Circle the option that best describes
your results for branch 1.
The bulb brightness is
dim/normal/bright because the two bulbs
are in series/parallel.
c) ii) Circle the option that best describes
your results for branch 2.
The bulb brightness is dim/normal/bright because the two
bulbs are in series/parallel.
d) i) Circle the option that best describes your results.
The current on branch 1 has
increased/decreased/doubled/halved compared to the first
circuit because the two bulbs are in series/parallel.
d) i) Circle the option that best describes your results.
The current on branch 2 has
increased/decreased/doubled/halved/stayed the same
compared to the first circuit because the two bulbs are in
series/parallel.
Analysis: Thinking about your results
1. Do your results support your predictions?
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2. a) i) How does increasing the number components by increasing
the number of branches affect the current and bulb brightness? You
need to talk about both the main circuit and the branches.
ii) How does increasing the number of cells affect the current and
bulb brightness? You need to talk about both the main circuit and
the branches.
iii) How does increasing the number of components on one branch
affect the current and bulb brightness? You need to talk about both
the main circuit and the branches.
3. Think about your answers to question 2 and use them to create a
paragraph that explains how and why the current and bulb
brightness is affected by changing the number of cells/components:
Use comparative language: dimmer/brighter,
increases/decreases, bigger/smaller.
Use bullet points.
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Other Components
There are 7 stations set up around the room. You will move round building the circuits required at
each station and filling in the worksheet. You MUST take ALL the parts of the circuit apart when you are finished.
Instructions Circuit Diagram Questions
Make a series Draw a diagram of your circuit: a) Draw an arrow on your diagram to show which
circuit that
way current must flow. (Remember the LED only
incorporates
an LED (light lets current through in one direction).
emitting
b) Which of these facts about LEDs mean they
diode).
are often used in torches?
Try turning the
They require less current than bulbs.
LED round and
see if it works
The battery will last longer than with a
in the opposite
direction.
bulb.
They come in different colours.
They don’t get as hot as bulbs.
They give a very bright light.
Make a series Draw a diagram of your circuit: a) Are the two bulbs of the same
circuit with a
brightness?.............
bulb, then a
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variable b) When you increase the resistance what
resistor, then
happens to:
another bulb,
then an i) the bulb
ammeter.
brightness? ........................................................
Try varying the ii) the
resistance and
current? ................................................................
observe what
happens to the ......
brightness of
c) When you decrease the resistance what
the bulbs.
happens to:
i) the bulb
brightness? ........................................................
ii) the
current? ................................................................
......
d) The component is adjusted so that the lamps
get dimmer. Why do they get dimmer?
..............................................................................
......................
e) A resistor (non-variable) can be put into a
circuit to reduce the current. Why might this be
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useful?
..............................................................................
......................
..............................................................................
......................
1. Make a Draw a diagram of your circuit: a) Does your first circuit
series circuit
work? .........................................
with a reed
switch and a b) Look at the reed switch.
bulb. Answer
i) Are the metal contacts inside it
questions a)
and b) touching? .................
ii) Why does this mean the bulb doesn’t come
2. Put a
magnet next to on?
the reed
..............................................................................
switch. Watch
and listen to .........................
what happens.
c) What happens to the reed switch when you
Now connect
up the wires place it next to the
and observe.
magnet? ...............................................................
d) What happens to the bulb when there is a
magnet next to the reed switch?
Why? .....................................................................
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..........................................................................
1. Make a Draw a diagram of your circuit: a) i) How would you describe the amplitude of
circuit with a
the
buzzer and a
LDR (light buzzer? .................................................................
dependent
.....................
resistor).
Answer ii) What can you deduce about the resistance?
question a).
..............................................................................
2. Shine a ......................
torch on the
b) i) How would you describe the amplitude of
LDR. Answer
question b). the
buzzer? .................................................................
3. Cover the
LDR sensor .....................
with the black
ii) What can you deduce about the resistance?
lid provided.
Answer ..............................................................................
question c).
......................
c) i) How would you describe the amplitude of
the
buzzer? .................................................................
.....................
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ii) What can you deduce about the resistance?
..............................................................................
......................
Read the Complete the diagram of your circuit: a) Describe what has to happen in order for the
information LED to come on.
sheet at the
station about ..............................................................................
relay switches.
......................
Complete the ..............................................................................
circuit by
......................
making circuit
1 (the ‘safe’ ..............................................................................
circuit). You
......................
must have a
switch in the
circuit. b) Give an example of when a relay might be
used and why.
..............................................................................
......................
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a) i) Which components are on when the switch
is at the position shown on the
diagram? ...............................................................
..............................................................................
Circuit: ...........................................................
ii) If there are any components that are not on
explain why this is
Make the
so: .........................................................................
circuit shown.
It includes an ........................... ..................................................
SPDT switch.
..................................................
b) Flip the switch so that it is at the opposite
position. Which components are now
on? ........................................................................
............................ .................................................
...................................................
c) Can the buzzer and the motor both be on?
Explain your
answer: .................................................................
................................... ..........................................
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..........................................................
Make the Circuit: a) Have you added the voltmeter in series or
circuit shown. in parallel?
It includes a …………………………………………………………
voltmeter
………………
b) i) What is the reading on the voltmeter?
ii) What would you expect to happen to the
reading if you added another cell?
…………………………………………………………
…………………
iii) Why?
…………………………………………………………
.
…………………………………………………………
…………………
iv) Add another cell. Were you correct?
…………….
c) How is a voltmeter different from an
ammeter?
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…………………….......
…………………………………………………………
………………………
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