Year 4 Science: Drawing and reading a circuit
Part of the Year 4 Science electricity and circuits chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
Drawing and reading a circuit
Scientists draw circuits with symbols, so that the same drawing can be read anywhere. Each part has its own symbol, shown in section 9.2. A drawing of a circuit shows the parts in one loop, with the wires joining them.
Key ideas
- A circuit drawing uses symbols for each part.
- The cell has a long line and a short line.
- The bulb is a circle with a cross inside.
- The parts of a series circuit lie in one loop.
Method. Look at the drawing.
- Look at the drawing. The cell is drawn on the left-hand wire.left
- Write the side. So the cell is on the left.left
- Write the answer. left
Check. The bulb is on the right in the same picture. ✓
Method. Think about the symbols.
- Look at the symbols. A bulb is drawn as a circle with a cross inside.circle with a cross
- Name the part. So that symbol is a bulb.bulb
- Write the answer. bulb
Check. The cell symbol is different. ✓
Method. Look for the gap in the loop.
- Look at the top wire. The top wire has a gap, so the loop is broken.gap
- Decide. A broken loop means the lamp does not light, so the answer is no.no
- Write the answer. no
Check. Closing the gap would complete the loop. ✓
Watch out
Watch out: a drawing with a gap in one wire is not a complete loop. The lamp will not light, even though all the parts are in the drawing.
Try it at home or school (with a grown-up). On paper, with a grown-up, draw a circuit with a cell, a bulb, a switch and two wires in one loop. Use the symbols from section 9.2. Check that the loop has no gap.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Ask: “Does your loop go all the way round? Which symbol is the switch?” Let your child draw the loop slowly, and check it with a finger.
Exercise 9D Drawing and reading a circuit
Method. Look at the picture.
- Look at the picture. The cell is drawn on the left-hand wire.left
- Write the answer. left
Check. The bulb is on the right. ✓
Method. Look at the picture.
- Look at the picture. The bulb is drawn on the right-hand wire.right
- Write the answer. right
Check. The cell is on the left. ✓
Method. Read the key idea in section 9.4.
- Read the key idea. The cell has a long line and a short line.long line
- Write the answer. cell
Check. A cell is also called a battery. ✓
Method. Read the key idea in section 9.4.
- Read the key idea. The bulb is a circle with a cross inside.circle with a cross
- Write the answer. bulb
Check. A bulb is also called a lamp. ✓
Method. Read the table in section 9.2.
- Read the switch row. A switch opens and closes the loop.opens and closes
- Write the answer. switch
Check. A switch is drawn as a line that can be lifted. ✓
Method. Think about a series circuit.
- Think about the loop. A series circuit has all its parts in one loop.one loop
- Write the answer. 1
Check. All the parts are in one line. ✓
Method. Read the key idea in section 9.4.
- Read the key idea. The parts of a series circuit lie in one loop.one loop
- Decide. So the answer is yes.yes
- Write the answer. yes
Check. A series circuit is one loop. ✓
Method. Look for the gap.
- Look at the top wire. The top wire has a gap, so the loop is broken.gap
- Decide. A broken loop means the lamp does not light.no
- Write the answer. no
Check. Fix the gap, and the lamp would light. ✓
Method. Think about which part can close a loop.
- Think about the parts. A switch can be closed to complete the loop.closed
- Name the part. So the switch is the part that is closed.switch
- Write the answer. switch
Check. Closing the switch completes the loop. ✓
Method. Think about the cell.
- Think about the cell. The cell pushes the electricity round the loop.pushes
- Make the prediction. Without the cell, the electricity cannot flow, so the lamp will not light.will not light
- Write the answer. Accept any prediction that the lamp will not light, because there is no cell to push the electricity round.
Check. Test with a grown-up using a bulb holder. ✓
Method. Think about the drawing.
- Think about the symbols. Each part has its own symbol.own symbol
- Write the reason. The lines show how the parts are joined in one loop.joined
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence that says each part has its own symbol, and the drawing shows the parts joined in one loop.
Check. The drawing shows the connections. ✓