Science - Circuits and Conductors Day 1

Circuits and Conductors CIRCUIT LOOPS

Students will be able to understand and illustrate that the flow of electricity requires a closed circuit.

Multiple Choice

A fifth grade class was returning to their classroom after lunch. When they entered the room, the lights were off. After the students were seated, the teacher picked a student to close the light circuit. Which of the following is the BEST evidence that the circuit was closed when the student returned to her seat?

• other students heard her flip the switch on the wall

• the lights in the room were on

• the air temperature in the room was cool

• there was soft music playing on the speakers

​Loops: The Key to Complete Circuits

​When you tie your shoes, first you tie a knot. Then you tie a loop. You loop your shoestrings together so they don’t flop all over the place. If the loop is open, your shoestrings will trip you. If the loop is closed, they stay out of the way.

​I. A loop is a kind of circle.

• Loops can be open or closed. (Circles are always closed, so that is how loops are different from circles)

• Electricity flows through a special kind of loop called a circuit.

Multiple Choice

Circles are always __________, so that is how loops are different from circles.

• big

• open

• closed

• small

​II. There are three parts to every electrical circuit: input, wires, and output.

• Inputs can be batteries, plugs, or even solar panels.

  • The input provides the electrical energy needed for the circuit.

• The wires are conductive metals, usually copper, that allow electricity to flow through them when a circuit is closed.

• The final part of every circuit is the output.

  • In most of our examples in fifth grade, the output is a light bulb.

  • Outputs could be speakers, for sound, or motors to convert electricity into mechanical energy.

Understanding Simple Circuit

• 1) Battery

• 2) Wire

• 3) Switch

• 4) Light bulb

​Please draw this diagram in your NOTEBOOK!!!

Multiple Choice

The ________ provides the electrical energy needed for the circuit.

• output

• input

Multiple Choice

The wires are _____________ metals.

• shiny

• beautiful

• insulator

• conductive

Multiple Choice

The wires are hooked up to the ___________________ of the battery.

• middle

• top and bottom

• top

• bottom

​III. Switches - not always a part of every circuit.

• Switches are mechanical devices which open and close the circuit.

  • The light switch on the wall closes the circuit (connects the wires) when closed, and opens the circuits (takes the wires apart) to turn the lights off.

  • Switches control the flow of electricity in a circuit.

Multiple Choice

___________ are mechanical devices which open and close the circuit.

• Switches

• Circuits

• Batteries

• Wires

Multiple Choice

What other word means component?

• path

• part

• power

• pop

Multiple Choice

How would the movement of electrons in electric current be described?

• sit still

• build up

• jump

• steady flow

Multiple Choice

The purpose of the power source is to push electrons through the electric circuit.

• True

• False

Multiple Select

Click any that are examples of power sources.

• wires

• generator

• battery

• switch

• wall outlet

Multiple Choice

Why are electrical wires made of metal? They are good

• conductors

• insulators

• resistors

• calculators

IV. Open and Closed Circuit

• Open circuit = is a circuit that is not complete and no electric energy flows through it.

• Closed circuit = is a circuit that is complete and electric energy flows through it.

Multiple Choice

What object could a switch be compared to?

• a fan blade

• a roller coaster

• a drawbridge

• a belt buckle

Multiple Choice

What does this symbol mean?

• Closed circuit

• Open circuit

Multiple Choice

What does this symbol mean?

• Closed circuit

• Open circuit

V. Voltage

• electrical potential energy difference between two places on the circuit.

Multiple Choice

Students constructed a circuit using different-colored lightbulbs. What will happen if Switch 3 is closed and the other switches are left open?

• Only the white bulb will operate

• None of the bulbs will operate

• Only the white and yellow bulbs will operate

• Only the red and blue bulbs will operate

Multiple Choice

A group of students built the circuit shown above. The lightbulb does not glow. Which statement explains this observation?

• The battery is not charged

• The lightbulb is not part of a complete circuit

• The circuit does not have a switch

• The bell uses most of the energy from the battery

Multiple Choice

Will the light bulb in this circuit light and why/why not?

• yes, because it has two batteries
• no, because the switch is open
• yes, because it is in a circuit
• no, because the bulb is burned out

Multiple Choice

What do you think are some ways of making a light bulb burn brighter?

• Using higher voltage

• Using longer wires

• Using more switches

Circuit Construction Kit: AC - Virtual Lab - RLC Circuit | AC Circuits | Kirchoff's Law - PhET Interactive Simulations My Account

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