Current Electricity- Experiment Worksheet
Name:_______________________
Class:_______
Date:________________
Table 1.1- Table of symbols used for electric circuits
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Experiment is to be carried out in pairs
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Pairs will consist of one boy and one girl where possible
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If you do not understand a question or term raise your hand
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Questions are to be answered on the sheet and handed up at the end of class
Section A – Background Information
Bulbs and batteries contain two terminals each. A terminal is a part of the bulb/battery that
you connect a wire to. When a bulb and battery are connected by a wire at each terminal the
bulb will light.
Q1. A bulb contains 2 terminals. The diagram below contains a bulb with elements. Which
numbers represent the 2 terminals in the bulb?
Q2. A battery also contains two terminals. In the diagram below label these terminals A and
B.
+
-
Q3. (a) In each diagram below give a
the bulb will not light.
if you think the bulb will light and an X if you think
(b) Give reasons for your answer.
i) ___________________________________________________________________
ii)___________________________________________________________________
iii)___________________________________________________________________
iv)___________________________________________________________________
The arrangement of a battery, wire and bulb that allows the bulb to light is called a
complete electric circuit. The word “circuit” means a “circular route”. Think of formula 1 or
rally circuits. The cars all start and finish at the same point.
Q5. Why is “circuit” a good name for the arrangement of battery, bulb and circuit when the
bulb lights?
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Q6 a) A conductor is i) an object that stops current flowing
ii) something that doubles current
iii) an object that allows current flow through it
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b) An insulator is i) an object that stops current flowing
ii) something that doubles current
iii) an object that allows current flow through it
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Q7. Fill in the table by predicting which materials you think are a conductor or insulator.
Once you make your predictions, check with the teacher. Then use your equipment to test.
Item
Copper coin
Paper
Rubber
Steel paper clip
Prediction
Observation
Q8. Given the simple circuit diagram below,
B) Predict what will happen when you close the switch: _____________________________
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c) Connect this up. Was your prediction correct?
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ii) Why? ____________________________________________________________________
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d) Explain what happens when the switch is open.
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Section B- Electric Current
Q1.a) Connect a battery, bulb and wire as follows:
b) Is the flow from
a) battery  bulb or,
b) battery bulb  battery again?
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c) Is there a flow inside the battery?
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“The flow of electricity around a circuit is called electric current.”
Q2 a) If 2 identical bulbs are equally bright, what does this tell us about the amount of
current going through them?
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b) If bulb A is brighter than bulb B what does this tell us about the amount of current
through them? ______________________________________________________________
Q3 a) Given a 2 bulb circuit as follows, predict the brightness of the bulbs.
Prediction: __________________________________________________________________
The previous circuit is called a “Series Circuit”
b) Check your prediction using the equipment.
Observation: _________________________________________
c) Compare the brightness of the two bulbs in circuit 1 (above) compared to the single bulb
in circuit 2 (Below).
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Include screenshot here of your setup
Circuit 1
Circuit 2
d) Is there any difference in the current between the two circuits?
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e) Taking your answer from part (d), does the amount of current through the battery
change? Why?
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Q4. In looking at the circuits below, predict whether the bulbs in circuit 2 will be brighter,
less bright or the same.
Circuit 2 from above
Circuit 4
Circuit 3
Circuit 5
Predictions:_________________________________________________________________
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b) Set up the circuit and check your prediction. Was your prediction correct?
______________.
If not explain why ____________________________________________
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Include your screenshots here:
c) What does this tell you about the amount of current in each bulb?
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d) Which circuit has more current and why? (hint: use the brightness to roughly describe
your answer)
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Q5. Explain, in your own words, what happens to the current when you add a bulb in
SERIES?
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Section C – Current in different circuits
In the previous section you were asked to compare these two circuits
Circuit 2: One bulb in series
Circuit 4:
Which bulb do you think is brightest and why?
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Using your equipment, test your prediction and write down your observation (ask your
teacher to confirm that your setup is correct)
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Comment on the brightness of the bulbs in Circuit 4 , compared to the brightness of a single
circuit bulb – create these circuits.
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Based on this, what can you say about the current in circuit 4 compared to the current in a
single bulb circuit.
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Include your screenshots here:
This type of circuit is called a parallel circuit.
Using your own words; define what a parallel circuit is:
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