Circuits

Exploring the components of a circuit

 Today’s Focus

• Electric Circuit
• Components of an Electric Circuit
• What happens in a circuit?
• Conductors and Insulators
Circuit or Circus? Which of these circuits would work?

A B C
Circuit or Circus? Which of these circuits would work?

ANSWER
KEY

A metal screw is a
A plastic toothbrush
A plastic comb is not a conductor conductor of electricity,
is not a conductor of electricity,
of electricity. but the power source
and a power source is missing.
is missing.
 By the end of the lesson,
you’ll be able to...

Describe what an electric circuit Name at least three (3)

is. components of a circuit.

Explain what happens in an Differentiate conductors from

electric circuit. insulators.
 What is an electric circuit?

DIRECTION OF

It is a complete path ELECTRIC CURRENT

through which electric

current flows.

It should be constructed in
an unbroken loop.
What makes an electric A simple circuit consists of a battery (or
other source), a light bulb (or other load) and
circuit complete? conducting wires.

COMPONENT

SYMBOL
Other Circuit Shown below are other circuit components and
Components their corresponding electrical symbols:

battery closed switch open switch

resistor motor fuse

What happens in a A dry cell provides the ‘push’ needed for

circuit? electrons to flow in the loop.

These electrons are already present in the

wires.

When these electrons pass through a load

or a receiver, electrical energy can change
into other forms, such as light, heat and
sound.
Completing the Circuit

Given a bulb, a wire and a cell, can you

suggest:

1 way to connect them to get the

bulb to light up?

1 way to connect them such that the

bulb does not light up?

Use the electrical symbols when drawing

the circuits.
Completing the
Circuit

SAMPLE ANSWER

Bulb lights up Bulb does not light up

Completing the
Circuit

EXTENSION ACTIVITY

With the help of your teacher or carer, test whether

WITH THE HELP OF YOUR TEACHER OR CARER,
your suggestions
TEST WHETHER YOUR and diagrams will
SUGGESTIONS AND make the bulb WILL
DRAWINGS
lightBULB
MAKE THE usingLIGHT
actual USING
batteries, a smallBATTERIES,
ACTUAL lightbulb and
A SMALL
LIGHTBULB, AND WIRES.
wires.
 Conductors vs Insulators
Conductors Insulators

These materials allow charges to These materials resist the free

flow freely. movement of charges.

diamond
rubber
balloon
copper wire

rubber tire
silver
spoon
 Think
About It!
WITH THE HELP OF YOUR TEACHER OR CARER,
TEST WHETHER YOUR SUGGESTIONS AND
DRAWINGS WILL MAKE THE BULB LIGHT USING
ACTUAL BATTERIES, A SMALL LIGHTBULB, AND
Can you name other
WIRES.
conducting materials aside
from copper wire and silver
spoon?
What can electric Electric circuits play a crucial role

circuits do? in our daily lives.

It allows specific It allows light It helps trains move It enables the

devices to produce bulbs to light and makes travelling cooling system of a
heat and sound. up. to work or school refrigerator to work.
easier.
 Review
What is an electric circuit?

Some of its components A complete circuit features

It is a complete path
include wires, a bulb and a an unbroken loop where
through which electric
power source (cell or charges
current flows.
battery). can flow.
Turning Lemons
into Electricity
Find out how a lemon-powered clock
works.

Research and share what you’ve

found.