Variables in electric circuits: plan | Science | Quizalize & Oak National Academy

Starter quiz

What is the unit used to measure the electrical push provided by a cell or battery?
- cm
- newtons
- volts ✓
- kg
Cells with a lower ______ provide a weaker electrical push to a circuit.
- 'voltage' ✓
How can you decrease the voltage of a circuit?
- increae the number of cells
- change the cells ✓
- decrease the number of cells ✓
- change the position of the cells
How does decreasing the voltage of the cell affect the brightness of a bulb in a circuit?
- nothing
- gets brighter
- gets dimmer ✓
What might happen if the voltage is too high in a circuit?
- the bulb will may get dimmer
- the bulb may blow or burn out ✓
- the switch may stick
- the wires may vibrate
What is the unit used to measure light with a light sensor?
- lax
- lox
- lux ✓
- lex
- lix

Exit quiz

A ______ is any one thing in an investigation which could be changed.
- 'variable' ✓
How many variables should you change each time you carry out an investigation?
- 0
- 1 ✓
- 2
- all but 1
This circuit been changed to see what affects bulb brightness? How has it been changed?
- a component has been added
- a component has been removed
- the position of the components has been changed ✓
- a cell has been added
This circuit been changed? How has it been changed?
- a component has been added
- a component has been removed ✓
- the position of the components has been changed ✓
- a cell has been added
Which of these may affect the brightness of a bulb in a circuit?
- the person who connects the bulb
- the position of the bulb in the circult ✓
- the colour of the bulb holder
To ______ a variable is to keep it the same during an investigation.
- 'control' ✓

Worksheet

Loading worksheet ...

Presentation

Loading presentation ...

Lesson Details

Key learning points

A variable is any one thing in an investigation which could be changed.
Adding other components to the circuit may affect the brightness of a bulb.
Changing the position of the bulb in the circuit may affect how brightly it shines.

Common misconception

Children may not understand how variables interact within a circuit and how changes in one variable can affect others.

Teaching slides will relate the need to control variables in a comparative and fair test, to the need to do so with circuits in order to be able to relate a given variable to a measured outcome.

Keywords

Circuit - An electrical circuit is a closed loop or path that electricity can flow through to make a component work.
Brightness - The brightness of a bulb is the amount of light it produces.
Variable - A variable is something that can be changed, measured or kept the same in an investigation.
Affect - To affect something or someone is to change it or how it behaves.