Year 4 Science · Electricity and circuits · Summary
Year 4 Science Electricity and circuits: summary and key words
Part of the Year 4 Science electricity and circuits chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
Chapter summary
| Skill | Method |
|---|---|
| Appliances | Many appliances run from the mains, such as kettles and televisions. Torches and remote controls run from cells. |
| Parts of a circuit | A series circuit has a cell, wires, a bulb, a switch and a buzzer, all in one loop. |
| Complete loop | A lamp lights only when it is part of a complete loop with the cell. A gap or an open switch breaks the loop. |
| Symbols | A cell has a long line and a short line. A bulb is a circle with a cross inside. A switch is a line that can be opened. |
| Safety | Never touch mains electricity. Practicals use cells and a bulb holder, with a grown-up. |
Can you…?
- I can name appliances that run from the mains, and those that run from cells
- I can name the basic parts of a series circuit: cell, wires, bulb, switch and buzzer
- I can say whether a lamp will light, using the idea of a complete loop
- I can explain how a gap or an open switch breaks the loop
- I can read the symbols for a cell, a bulb and a switch in a circuit drawing
- I can follow safe practice with cells and a bulb holder
Key terms
- appliance
- a machine that uses electricity to do a job
- mains
- the electricity supply in a wall socket, which is dangerous to touch
- cell
- a battery, which pushes the electricity round a circuit
- circuit
- a loop that electricity can flow round, through a cell, wires and other parts
- series circuit
- a circuit in which all the parts are in one loop
- complete loop
- a loop with no gaps, so the electricity can flow all the way round
- switch
- a part that opens or closes the loop, to turn the circuit off or on
- buzzer
- a part that makes a sound when electricity flows through it
- bulb holder
- a holder that keeps the bulb in place safely in a practical