Year 4 Science: The parts of a simple series circuit
Part of the Year 4 Science electricity and circuits chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
The parts of a simple series circuit
A series circuit is a loop with all its parts in one line, so the electricity goes round the loop, one part after another. The basic parts are the cell, the wires, the bulb (also called a lamp), the switch and the buzzer.
| Part | What it does |
|---|---|
| cell (battery) | pushes the electricity round the circuit |
| wire | carries the electricity from one part to the next |
| bulb (lamp) | lights up when the electricity flows through it |
| switch | opens or closes the loop, to turn the circuit on or off |
| buzzer | makes a sound when the electricity flows through it |
Key ideas
- A series circuit is a single loop, with all its parts in one line.
- The cell pushes the electricity round the circuit.
- The wires carry the electricity from one part to the next.
- The bulb lights, and the buzzer makes a sound, when electricity flows through them.
Method. Read the table in section 9.2.
- Find the part. The cell pushes the electricity round the circuit.cell
- Name the part. So the part that pushes the electricity is the cell.cell
- Write the answer. cell
Check. A battery is another name for a cell. ✓
Method. Read the table in section 9.2.
- Find the part. The switch opens or closes the loop.opens or closes
- Name the part. So the switch turns the circuit on or off.switch
- Write the answer. switch
Check. Opening the switch breaks the loop. ✓
Method. Think about the table.
- Read the table. The bulb lights up, and it is also called a lamp.lamp
- Name the part. So a lamp is another name for the bulb.bulb
- Write the answer. bulb
Check. A bulb and a lamp are the same part. ✓
Watch out
Watch out: a cell is not the same as a bulb. The cell pushes the electricity round, and the bulb uses it to light up.
Try it at home or school (with a grown-up). Look at a torch with a grown-up, and find the cell, the bulb and the switch. Say which part does each job. Do not take the batteries out, and do not touch the bulb while it is hot.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Ask: “Which part pushes the electricity? Which part lights up? Which part turns it on?” Let your child name each part in the torch.
Exercise 9B The parts of a simple series circuit
Method. Read the table in section 9.2.
- Read the first row. The cell pushes the electricity round the circuit.cell
- Write the answer. cell
Check. A cell is also called a battery. ✓
Method. Read the table in section 9.2.
- Read the wire row. The wire carries the electricity from one part to the next.wire
- Write the answer. wire
Check. Wires join all the parts in the loop. ✓
Method. Read the table in section 9.2.
- Read the bulb row. The bulb lights up when electricity flows through it.bulb
- Write the answer. bulb
Check. A lamp lights in the same way. ✓
Method. Read the table in section 9.2.
- Read the switch row. The switch opens or closes the loop.switch
- Write the answer. switch
Check. Opening the switch turns the circuit off. ✓
Method. Read the table in section 9.2.
- Read the buzzer row. The buzzer makes a sound when electricity flows through it.buzzer
- Write the answer. buzzer
Check. A buzzer is one of the basic parts in the table. ✓
Method. Count the rows.
- Count the parts. The parts are cell, wire, bulb, switch and buzzer.five parts
- Write the answer. 5
Check. Five parts are named in the table. ✓
Method. Read the table in section 9.2.
- Read the bulb row. The bulb is also called a lamp.lamp
- Write the answer. lamp
Check. A lamp and a bulb are the same part. ✓
Method. Read the table in section 9.2.
- Read the cell row. A cell is the part that is also called a battery.battery
- Write the answer. battery
Check. A battery is made of cells. ✓
Method. Think about the parts needed for a loop.
- Think about the parts. A circuit needs a cell, wires and a bulb to work; a switch only turns it on or off.cell, wires and bulb
- Decide. So Ali is not right, and the answer is no.no
- Write the answer. no
Check. A switch is useful, but a loop without one still works. ✓
Method. Look at the picture of the symbols.
- Look at the symbols. The cell symbol has a long line and a short line.long line and a short line
- Name it. So that symbol is the cell.cell
- Write the answer. cell
Check. The bulb symbol is a circle with a cross. ✓
Method. Think about safe practice.
- Think about the parts. Only cells and a bulb holder are used in school practicals.cells
- Write the rule. Keeping the set-up safe means checking it with a grown-up first.checking
- Write the answer. Accept any safe rule, such as: use cells and a bulb holder only, and never touch the wires while they are hot.
Check. Ask a grown-up to check your circuit before you connect it. ✓
Method. Think about what the switch does.
- Think about opening. Opening the switch breaks the loop, so the electricity stops.breaks the loop
- Write the reason. Closing it completes the loop again, so the circuit is on.completes
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence that says a switch opens the loop to turn the circuit off, and closes it to turn it on.
Check. A switch opens and closes the loop. ✓