What will we be learning?
- We will understand what a circuit is
- Know about Input - Control and Output
- Identify Components in a circuit
- Explore series and parallel circuits
- Understand when simple circuits will work or not
What is a circuit?
A simple electric circuit has a cell, a lamp and a switch. To make a circuit, these components are connected together with metal connecting wires.
The current flows all the way around the circuit. The cell pushes the current around the circuit. As the current passes through the lamp, it makes it light up.
A simple electric circuit has a cell, a lamp and a switch. To make a circuit, these components are connected together with metal connecting wires.
The current flows all the way around the circuit. The cell pushes the current around the circuit. As the current passes through the lamp, it makes it light up.
Series & parallel circuits - There are two types of circuit we can make, called series and parallel.
The components in a circuit are joined by wires.
If you follow the circuit diagram from one side of the cell to the other, you should pass through all the different components, one after the other, without any branches.
The components in a circuit are joined by wires.
- If there are no branches then it's a series circuit. (If there are branches it's a parallel circuit)
- Series circuits - In a television series, you get several episodes, one after the other. A series circuit is similar. You get several components one after the other.
If you follow the circuit diagram from one side of the cell to the other, you should pass through all the different components, one after the other, without any branches.
Parallel circuits :
In parallel circuits different components are connected on different branches of the wire. If you follow the circuit diagram from one side of the cell to the other, you can only pass through all the different components if you follow all the branches.
In a parallel circuit, if a lamp breaks or a component is disconnected from one parallel wire, the components on different branches keep working. And, unlike a series circuit, the lamps stay bright if you add more lamps in parallel.
Parallel circuits are useful if you want everything to work, even if one component has failed. This is why our homes are wired up with parallel circuits.
In parallel circuits different components are connected on different branches of the wire. If you follow the circuit diagram from one side of the cell to the other, you can only pass through all the different components if you follow all the branches.
In a parallel circuit, if a lamp breaks or a component is disconnected from one parallel wire, the components on different branches keep working. And, unlike a series circuit, the lamps stay bright if you add more lamps in parallel.
Parallel circuits are useful if you want everything to work, even if one component has failed. This is why our homes are wired up with parallel circuits.
Symbols used in circuits
Different Symbols
Use your worksheet and match the symbol to the component. (Group)
What does each Component do?
What does each Component do?
You now know that components have different functions and that we use diagrams to draw circuits:
As a group:
Work out how the circuits work in the products you are given
As a group:
Work out how the circuits work in the products you are given
Draw the circuit on the whiteboard.
Do you all agree?
Who will explain the answer?
Do you all agree?
Who will explain the answer?
On y.our own:
Use the worksheet to establish which circuits will work and which won't.
Lets check the answers!
What have you learnt today?
Use the worksheet to establish which circuits will work and which won't.
Lets check the answers!
What have you learnt today?