Voltage is a measure of the size of the push provided by a cell or other source of electricity.

The brightness of a bulb is the amount of light it gives out.

To affect something or someone is to change it or how it behaves.

A cell is a single unit that is needed for electricity to flow around a circuit.

Lux is the unit used to measure the brightness of light.

Investigating voltage: do and review

Science

Components and simple circuits

Circuit symbols and diagrams

Electrical discoveries and inventions (non-statutory)

Investigating voltage: plan

Variables in electric circuits: plan

Variables in electric circuits: do and review

Changing the volume of buzzers

The position of switches: open and closed

Choosing and using conductors and insulators (non-statutory)

How electrical insulators keep us safe (non-statutory)

Electrical careers

Electrical sensors: design (non-statutory)

Electrical sensors: make and review (non-statutory)

Debating the use of electric cars (non-stat Climate Change & Sustainability)

Sustainable sources of electricity (non-stat Climate Change & Sustainability)

In the Changing circuits unit, pupils learnt to give reasons for variations in how components function, such as the brightness of bulbs. In the Series circuits unit, they will build on this knowledge to find rules for electric current and voltage in series circuits 

In the Simple electrical circuits units, pupils learnt to construct a simple series electrical circuit, identifying and naming its basic parts. In this Changing circuits unit, pupils will build on this knowledge to compare and give reasons for variations in how components in a circuit function

This unit explores how circuit components like lamps and buzzers function, including the effect of cell number and voltage. It covers using symbols in circuit diagrams, planning scientific enquiries, taking precise measurements, recording data, and presenting findings with evidence and conclusions.

Changing circuits

Physical activity and equipment requiring safe use

Changing the voltage of cells and batteries can affect the {{}} of a bulb in a circuit.

Which of the following methods can be used to measure the brightness of a bulb?

Which of the following is the unit used for measuring the brightness of a light?

If a lower voltage is used in a circuit containing a bulb, the bulb would be ...

Which of the following causes a bulb to 'blow' or burn out?

Which of the following describes sharing results by saying them out loud?

What does the V on a cell or battery stand for?

Voltage is the measure of electrical push and volts are the units used.

Volts is the measure of electrical push and voltage is the units used.

Which of the following statements is correct?

What effect would removing cells from a circuit have on the voltage of the circuit?

The voltage cannot be predicted from the size of the cell.

A circuit is made with a single 1.5V cell and a lightbulb.  If another 1.5V cell is added into the circuit what would you expect to observe?

Cells with a higher voltage provide a __________ electrical push to a circuit.

Investigating voltage: do and review

Lesson outcome

Content guidance