Year 4 Science · Switches, conductors and insulators · Test yourself

Year 4 Science Switches, conductors and insulators: check-up and practice test questions

Part of the Year 4 Science switches, conductors and insulators chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page

Exercise 10Z Check-up

Look at the table in section 10.1. Which switch position lights the lamp? Write the word: closed or open.

closed

Method. Read the lights row.

Read the row. The closed switch lights the lamp.
closed
Write the answer.
closed

Check. A closed switch completes the loop. ✓

Done

When an open switch breaks the loop, does the lamp light? Write yes or no.

Method. Read the open row in section 10.1.

Read the row. The open switch row says the lamp does not light.
does not light
Write the answer.
no

Check. An open switch breaks the loop. ✓

Done

In the conductor tester, a lamp lights. Is the material a conductor or an insulator? Write the word.

conductor

Method. Read what the lamp shows.

Read the result. A lit lamp means the loop is complete.
complete
Name the material. So the material is a conductor.
conductor
Write the answer.
conductor

Check. A conductor completes the loop. ✓

Done

Look at the table in section 10.3. Is the copper coin a conductor? Write yes or no.

yes

Method. Read the row for the copper coin.

Read the row. The copper coin lights the lamp.
lights
Decide. So the copper coin is a conductor.
yes
Write the answer.
yes

Check. Copper is a metal conductor. ✓

Done

How many metals are in the table in section 10.3? Write the number.

Method. Count the metal rows.

Count them. Copper coin, steel paper clip and aluminium foil are metals.
three
Write the answer.
3

Check. Three metals in the table. ✓

Done

Is pencil lead a metal, and is it a conductor? Write the two answers: yes or no for each, in the order metal then conductor.

no; yes

Method. Read the table in section 10.3.

Metal? Pencil lead is made of graphite, which is not a metal.
not a metal
Conductor? Pencil lead lights the lamp, so it is a conductor.
conductor
Write the answer.
no; yes

Check. Pencil lead conducts without being a metal. ✓

Done

Look at the table in section 10.4. Is the wooden stick a conductor or an insulator? Write the word.

insulator

Method. Read the wood row.

Read the row. The wooden stick does not light the lamp.
does not light
Write the answer.
insulator

Check. Wood is an insulator. ✓

Done

Fill in the gap: electrical wires have a ___ coating that is an insulator. Write the word.

plastic

Method. Read the key idea in section 10.4.

Read the key idea. The coating is a plastic or rubber insulator.
plastic
Write the answer.
plastic

Check. Rubber is also used. ✓

Done

Which part of a switch is usually made of plastic: the metal contacts or the handle? Write the word.

handle

Method. Read the key idea in section 10.5.

Read the key idea. The handle is usually made of an insulator, such as plastic.
handle
Write the answer.
handle

Check. The metal contacts are the conductors. ✓

Done

Explain why a switch needs both a conductor and an insulator. Write one sentence.

Accept any sentence that says the metal conductor completes the loop, and the plastic insulator keeps the user safe.

Method. Think about each part.

Think about the metal. The metal contacts complete the loop.
complete the loop
Think about the handle. The plastic handle keeps the user safe.
keeps the user safe
Write the answer.
Accept any sentence that says the metal conductor completes the loop, and the plastic insulator keeps the user safe.

Check. Each material has a job. ✓

Done

Total 15 marks. Allow about 15 minutes.

Exercise 10X Practice test questions

FIn a series circuit, a switch is closed. Does the lamp light? Write yes or no.[1 mark]

yes

Method. Think about a closed switch.

Think about the loop. A closed switch completes the loop, so the lamp lights.
lights
Write the answer.
yes

Check. A closed switch completes the loop. ✓

Done

FIn a series circuit, a switch is open. Does the lamp light? Write yes or no.[1 mark]

Method. Think about an open switch.

Think about the loop. An open switch breaks the loop, so the lamp does not light.
does not light
Write the answer.
no

Check. An open switch breaks the loop. ✓

Done

FA material is placed between the clips of a conductor tester, and the lamp lights. Write the word: conductor or insulator.[1 mark]

conductor

Method. Read what the lamp shows.

Read the result. A lit lamp means the material completes the loop.
completes the loop
Name the kind. So the material is a conductor.
conductor
Write the answer.
conductor

Check. A conductor lets electricity flow. ✓

Done

FWrite the word for a material that does not let electricity flow through it, such as glass or plastic.[1 mark]

insulator

Method. Read the definition in section 10.2.

Read the definition. A material that does not let electricity flow through it is an insulator.
insulator
Write the answer.
insulator

Check. Glass and plastic are insulators. ✓

Done

FWrite the name of one metal that is a good conductor of electricity.[1 mark]

Accept any one of: copper, steel, aluminium, iron, gold.

Method. Think about metals.

Think about metals. Copper, steel, aluminium, iron and gold are metals, and metals are good conductors.
metals
Write the answer.
Accept any one of: copper, steel, aluminium, iron, gold.

Check. Metals are good conductors. ✓

Done

FA wire is covered in plastic. Write the word for the plastic covering: conductor or insulator.[1 mark]

insulator

Method. Think about the covering.

Think about plastic. Plastic does not let electricity flow, so it is an insulator.
insulator
Write the answer.
insulator

Check. The covering keeps the electricity inside the wire. ✓

Done

FWhich part of a switch completes the loop when the switch is closed? Write the words.[2 marks]

metal contacts

Method. Think about the contacts.

Think about the parts. When the metal contacts touch, the loop is complete.
touch
Name the part. So the metal contacts complete the loop.
metal contacts
Write the answer.
metal contacts

Check. The metal contacts are conductors. ✓

Done

PSA steel paper clip and a plastic ruler are tested in the conductor tester. Which one makes the lamp light? Write the name.[2 marks]

steel paper clip

Method. Think about each material.

Think about the paper clip. Steel is a metal, and it completes the loop, so the lamp lights.
lights
Think about the ruler. Plastic is an insulator, so the lamp stays off.
stays off
Write the answer.
steel paper clip

Check. Metals are good conductors. ✓

Done

RExplain why the plastic handle of a switch is an insulator. Write one sentence.[2 marks]

Accept any sentence that says plastic does not let electricity flow, so the user is kept safe from the electricity.

Method. Think about the handle.

Think about plastic. Plastic does not let electricity flow through it.
does not let
Write the reason. So the person using the switch is kept safe.
kept safe
Write the answer.
Accept any sentence that says plastic does not let electricity flow, so the user is kept safe from the electricity.

Check. An insulator keeps the user safe. ✓

Done

RA switch has metal contacts and a plastic handle. Write one sentence that says what each part is made of, and why.[3 marks]

Accept any sentence that says the metal contacts are conductors that complete the loop, and the plastic handle is an insulator that keeps the user safe.

Method. Think about each part.

Think about the contacts. The metal contacts are conductors, and they complete the loop.
conductors
Think about the handle. The plastic handle is an insulator, and it keeps the user safe.
insulator
Write the answer.
Accept any sentence that says the metal contacts are conductors that complete the loop, and the plastic handle is an insulator that keeps the user safe.

Check. Each material has its job in the switch. ✓

Done

← Chapter 9: Electricity and circuits

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