Starter quiz
- What is the name of the tiny charged particles that flow round a circuit?
- protons
- neutrons
- hadrons
- electrons ✓
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- What is the name of the component that can be closed (to allow current to flow) or open (to stop current flowing)?
- a bulb
- a battery
- an ammeter
- a switch ✓
- a resistor
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- What is the word used to describe a flow of charge?
- voltage
- current ✓
- resistance
- capacitance
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- Where do electrons enter a battery?
- the positive terminal ✓
- the negative terminal
- both the positive and negative terminal
- electrons only leave a battery - they don't enter it
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- Where would you find electrons that can flow to cause a current? Choose all that apply.
- the metal wire in a circuit ✓
- a resistor ✓
- the plastic of the leads
- a battery ✓
- a bulb ✓
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- Match the electrical circuit terms to the correct meanings.
- electron⇔a tiny negatively charged particle ✓
- charge⇔this can be either negative or positive ✓
- battery⇔a component that pushes out and pulls in electrons ✓
Exit quiz
- Which photo shows an ammeter?
- What happens to the current in a series circuit?
- it decreases as it passes through components
- it increases as it passes through components
- it stays the same as it passes through components ✓
- it decreases as it passes through components then goes back to the original
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- What will happen to the current when an ammeter is placed in a series circuit?
- it will increase
- it will stay the same ✓
- it will decrease
- it is placed before the battery it will increase, if after, it will decrease
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Which statement is true about this circuit?- the ammeters have no effect on the current ✓
- the lamp has no effect on the current
- the lamp reduces the current and the ammeters increase the current
- both the lamp and the ammeters reduce the current
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What statement is correct about the readings on the two ammeters?- ammeter 1 will be higher than ammeter 2
- ammeter 1 will be lower than ammeter 2
- ammeter 1 will be positive and ammeter 2 will be negative
- both ammeters will read the same current ✓
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What statement is true about the lamps?- they will all be equally bright ✓
- lamp 1 will be brightest followed by lamp 2 and lamp 3 will be dimmest
- lamp 3 will be brightest followed by lamp 2 and lamp 1 will be dimmest
- lamps 1 and 3 will be the brightest and lamp 2 will be dim
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Worksheet
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Presentation
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Video
Lesson Details
Key learning points
- An ammeter is used to measure the size of an electric current.
- An ammeter measures the current flowing through it without affecting the current in the circuit it is connected into.
- Electric current is measured in amps (A), which is short for amperes.
- The current in a series circuit is the same everywhere.
- Adding a component to a series circuit changes the current everywhere, on both sides of the component.
Common misconception
Pupils hold a consumption model of electric current in which it is used up in a circuit. They misuse the terms: voltage, current and electricity and choose a voltmeter to measure current.
Get pupils to investigate the size of current through a range of different conductors (and insulators) with an ammeter in a simple circuit. This will help them familiarise themselves with it and its use.
Keywords
Ammeter - An ammeter is a device that measures the current flowing in a circuit.
Amp - An ammeter measures the current in units called amps (A) which is short for amperes.
Series circuit - An ammeter is always placed in a series circuit so the electric current has to pass through it.
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