Variables in electric circuits: do and review
I can investigate variables that may affect the brightness of a bulb in an electric circuit.
Variables in electric circuits: do and review
I can investigate variables that may affect the brightness of a bulb in an electric circuit.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
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
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
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