🔋 Circuit Components
What component provides energy to a circuit?
Cell/battery
What is a conductor?
A material that lets electricity flow through it easily.
What happens when a switch is open?
The circuit is broken and the bulb does not light.
Name one source of electrical energy.
Cell/battery, solar panel, generator/mains power, or wind turbine.
What type of energy does a bulb produce?
Light energy and heat energy.
What component opens and closes a circuit?
Switch
Name one conductor.
Copper/metal, mineral-containing water, or graphite.
What happens when a switch is closed?
The circuit is complete and electricity can flow.
What type of energy is stored in a battery?
Chemical energy.
What type of energy does a buzzer produce?
Sound energy.
What does an ammeter measure?
Current — how much electricity is flowing.
What is an insulator?
A material that does not let electricity flow through it easily.
What happens when two cells are used instead of one?
The bulb becomes brighter because more electrical energy is pushed through.
How does a solar panel produce electrical energy?
It captures light energy from the sun and converts it into electrical energy.
What type of energy does a motor produce?
Movement/kinetic energy.
What does a voltmeter measure?
Voltage — the push of energy across a component.
Name two insulators.
Plastic, rubber, wood, glass or dry air.
What might happen if extra components are added?
The bulb may become dimmer because the energy is shared between more components.
How does a wind turbine generate electricity?
Moving air turns the turbine blades, which turn a generator to produce electricity.
What happens to electrical energy inside a bulb?
It is transformed into light energy and heat energy.
Explain the job of a battery, switch and bulb.
The battery provides/pushes electrical energy around the circuit, the switch controls whether the circuit is open or closed, and the bulb transforms electrical energy into light and heat
Why do electrical wires have a metal conductor inside and plastic insulation outside?
The metal carries the electrical current, while the plastic stops electricity escaping and helps keep people safe.
Why won't a bulb light if there is a gap anywhere in the circuit?
The circuit is not a complete loop, so current cannot flow around the circuit.
Name two ways electricity can be generated and explain how each works.
Solar panels convert light energy into electrical energy, while wind turbines use moving air to turn a generator and produce electricity.
Explain the energy transformation in a motor, buzzer and bulb.
➡Motor: electrical → movement/kinetic
➡Buzzer: electrical → sound
➡Bulb: electrical → light + heat