Spirit of Innovation: Steam Resources

SPIRIT OF
INNOVATION
Spirit of Innovation
Year Six
STEAM
PowerPoint – Circuits
RESOURCES
Electricity
Electricity can be made in a variety of ways, for example:
Burning fossil fuels Using wind power

(oil, gas, coal) at generated by wind
power stations turbines
Using water power Using solar power

(sometimes called generated by the sun
hydropower)
generated by running
or falling water.
Electricity is transported to our homes, schools and places of work through

wires and cables.
Circuits
Electrical circuits are built from many different components. These
components perform different functions. Some electrical components
include: cells, bulbs, motors, buzzers and wires.
A cells converts chemical
energy into electrical energy
by a chemical reaction.
Usually the chemicals are
kept inside the cell. It is used
in a circuit to power other
components. A cell produces
+
direct current (DC) electricity
(electricity that flows in one
direction, and does not
switch back and forth)
Circuits
Lamps are commonly called light bulbs. An electric lamp encloses a thin
metal filament that emits light (and heat) when an electric current is
passed through it. This filament is covered by a glass bulb containing a
gas, such as argon or nitrogen.
On
Off
Circuits
An electrical switch is used to interrupt the flow of electrons in
a circuit. Switches are either completely on (closed) or completely off
(open). Then the switch is closes electricity is able to flow around the
circuit.
Open – no electricity can flow Closed – electricity can flow

Circuits
A wire is a long thin piece of metal that is used to carry electric
current. Most wires often has an inner core made of a material that
conduct electricity and an outer coating that is an insulator, often
plastic.
Circuits
The motor in a machine is the part that uses electricity or fuel to
produce movement. E.g. it converts electrical power into mechanical
power.
M
A buzzer is an electrical device that creates a buzzing sound when
electricity passes through it.
Circuits
Voltage: is the difference in electrical A voltmeter is an instrument used for
energy between two parts of a circuit. measuring electrical potential
It can be measured using a volt meter difference between two points in an
and is measured in volts. The bigger electric circuit.
the voltage, the bigger the current.
V
Large electrical items need a higher
electrical voltage and current than
smaller items
Current: this is the amount of An ammeter (from Ampere Meter) is

electricity flowing through the circuit a measuring instrument used to
(basically a flow of electrons moving measure the current in a circuit.
in a loop in the circuit). It can be Electric currents are measured in
measured using an ammeter and amperes (A), hence the name.
measured in amps.
A
Match the symbol to the image
+
The electrons have The electrons flow up the wire
now travelled a inside the bulb and across the
complete circuit. filament. Here the some of the
electrical energy changes to
Without a complete heat and light energy.
circuit the electrons
cannot flow.
The then continue
to the positive side
of the battery.
The electrons continue

down another small wire
inside the bulb and to the
conductive side of the bulb.
Here we can see
the electrons
moving from the
A circuit is a route negative side of the
in which electrical battery towards the
current can flow. base of the bulb.
Series Circuit
If a bulb is removed the
circuit will be broken, as
the electrons stop flowing.
The current flows the same, from
one component to another.
When you plug in that second, third bulb, they will become
equally dim. More resistance has been added to the circuit,
which decreases the flow of current, as the battery has more
work to do.
In a parallel circuit the bulbs
will remain bright, but it will
Parallel Circuit Components connected
in parallel are
drain the battery power connected along
quicker. multiple paths so that
the current can split
up; the same voltage is
applied to each
component.
If a bulb is removed the electrons will continue to flow, as each bulb has its own circuit.
These resources have been brought to you by
Rank these circuits; starting with the brightest bulb and ending with the dullest bulb. Give reasons
for your answer.

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How are electricity generated and transported?

What are the main components of an electrical circuit?

SPIRIT OF

Burning fossil fuels Using wind power

Using water power Using solar power

Electricity is transported to our homes, schools and places of work through

Open – no electricity can flow Closed – electricity can flow

Current: this is the amount of An ammeter (from Ampere Meter) is

The electrons continue

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