Instructions
Read each question carefully. For Part A, circle the letter of the correct answer. For Part B, write your full answer on the lines provided. Good luck!
Part A: Choose the Correct Answer
- What is an electrical circuit?
a) A type of battery
b) A path for electricity to flow
c) A light bulb - Which of these provides the power in a simple circuit?
a) A switch
b) A bulb
c) A battery - What is the main job of a switch?
a) To make the light brighter
b) To open and close the circuit
c) To hold the wires together - If a circuit is closed, the light bulb will...
a) Turn on
b) Turn off
c) Get colder - What is the purpose of a wire in a circuit?
a) To be the power source
b) To be a path for electricity to travel
c) To turn the circuit on and off - Which material is a good conductor of electricity?
a) Rubber
b) Wood
c) Metal - Which material is an insulator?
a) Copper wire
b) Plastic
c) A silver spoon - True or False: Electricity can flow easily through an open circuit.
a) True
b) False - The symbol for a light bulb in a circuit diagram is a...
a) Square with a 'B'
b) Circle with a cross inside
c) A straight line - The symbol for a single battery cell is...
a) One long line and one short line
b) A circle with a 'P' for power
c) A zig-zag line - What does a straight line represent in a circuit diagram?
a) A switch
b) A wire
c) A battery - What happens to a light bulb if there is a break in the wire?
a) It gets much brighter
b) It stays on
c) It turns off - A circuit must be a complete ________ for electricity to flow.
a) Square
b) Loop
c) Puzzle - What do we call the part of the circuit that uses electricity, like a bulb or buzzer?
a) The source
b) The path
c) The load - True or False: A closed switch in a diagram looks like a bridge that is down, connecting the two sides.
a) True
b) False - The symbol for an open switch shows a...
a) Gap in the line
b) A complete circle
c) A solid, unbroken line - A simple circuit needs a power source, a path (wire), and a...
a) Piece of wood
b) Glass of water
c) Load (like a bulb) - True or False: All metals are insulators.
a) True
b) False - What is the flow of electricity through a circuit called?
a) A wave
b) A current
c) A spark - The symbol for a battery often has a '+' and a '-' sign. What do these show?
a) The positive and negative ends (terminals)
b) The size of the battery
c) If the battery is on or off
Part B: Write Your Answer
- What are the three main parts needed to make a simple circuit with a light bulb?
- In your own words, what does it mean for a circuit to be "complete"?
- Why is a switch useful on something like a lamp?
- Describe what the symbol for a wire looks like in a circuit diagram.
- Describe what the symbol for an open switch looks like in a circuit diagram.
- Name two things in your house that use an electrical circuit.
- What is the job of the battery in a circuit?
- Imagine you have a circuit that lights up a bulb. What would happen if you replaced a metal wire with a piece of yarn? Why?
- Why are the electrical cords for your TV or computer covered in plastic or rubber?
- Your flashlight is not working. Name two possible reasons the circuit is not complete.
Answer Key
Part A
- b) A path for electricity to flow
- c) A battery
- b) To open and close the circuit
- a) Turn on
- b) To be a path for electricity to travel
- c) Metal
- b) Plastic
- b) False
- b) Circle with a cross inside
- a) One long line and one short line
- b) A wire
- c) It turns off
- b) Loop
- c) The load
- a) True
- a) Gap in the line
- c) Load (like a bulb)
- b) False
- b) A current
- a) The positive and negative ends (terminals)
Part B (Example answers are provided. Similar answers are also correct.)
- A battery (power source), wires (path), and a light bulb (load).
- It means there are no gaps or breaks. The electricity has a full circle or loop to travel around from the battery, through the bulb, and back to the battery.
- A switch lets you easily turn the lamp on and off (close and open the circuit) without having to unplug it or take the batteries out.
- The symbol for a wire is a simple, straight line.
- It looks like a line with a break or a gap in it. One part of the line is lifted up like an open gate or a drawbridge.
- (Answers will vary). Examples: Television, refrigerator, lamp, computer, video game console, toaster.
- The battery's job is to provide the power or energy (electricity) for the circuit.
- The bulb would turn off. This is because yarn is an insulator, not a conductor, so electricity cannot flow through it to complete the circuit.
- Plastic and rubber are insulators. They keep the electricity safely inside the wire and protect us from getting an electrical shock.
- (Any two of the following are good answers). The batteries might be dead. The batteries might be put in backwards. The light bulb might be burned out. The switch might be broken.