Variables in electric circuits: do and review
I can investigate variables that may affect the brightness of a bulb in an electric circuit.
- Year 6
Variables in electric circuits: do and review
I can investigate variables that may affect the brightness of a bulb in an electric circuit.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Equipment such as a light sensor and data logger can be used to measure bulb brightness in lux.
- Scientists use the results from investigations to support or reject scientific ideas and theories.
- Adding bulbs means that voltage is equally distributed among them all, so bulbs will be dimmer.
- A bulb will be the same brightness wherever you place it in a circuit.
Keywords
Circuit - An electrical circuit is a closed loop or path that electricity can flow through to make a component work.
Variable - A variable is something that can be changed, measured or kept the same in an investigation.
Brightness - The brightness of a bulb is the amount of light it produces.
Affect - To affect something or someone is to change it or how it behaves.
Common misconception
Pupils may not understand how variables interact within a circuit and how changes in one variable can affect others.
Teaching slides will explain that variables are controlled in comparative and fair tests, and that the same can be done in circuits when adjusting variables like voltage to see how they affect things like brightness of bulbs.
Equipment
Equipment for building and investigating simple circuits with bulbs including cells, wires and switches. Equipment will also be needed to measure the brightness of light.
Content guidance
- Risk assessment required - equipment
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is the name for something that can be changed in an investigation?
Q2.Which of these is not a component of an electrical circuit?
Q3.What component is shown here?
Q4.In which of these circuits would the bulb produce light?
Q5.Which of these cells would provide the smallest electrical push to a circuit?
Q6.Why should you only change one variable in an investigation?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What do you call the equipment that detects the brightness of bulbs?
Q2.Which part of an investigation do scientists use to decide whether to support or reject a scientific theory?
Q3.True or false? These results support the idea that adding bulbs reduces the brightness of a bulb.
