Year 6 Science: Circuit symbols
Part of the Year 6 Science components, switches and circuit symbols chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
Circuit symbols
A circuit diagram uses symbols to show each component, and straight lines for the wires. The same symbols are used in every country and every book, so a diagram can be read by anyone.
The table names each component and describes its symbol. The picture shows the symbols.
| Component | Its symbol |
|---|---|
| cell | a long thin line and a short thick line |
| battery | two or more cells drawn together |
| bulb | a circle with a cross inside it |
| switch (open) | a line with a gap in it |
| switch (closed) | a line with no gap, joined all the way across |
| wire | a plain line |
| motor (non-statutory) | a circle with the letter M inside it |
Key ideas
- A cell is drawn as a long thin line and a short thick line.
- A bulb is a circle with a cross inside it.
- A switch is a line with a gap, which is open; closed means the gap is joined.
- Wires are plain straight lines, joined at the corners.
Method. Read the table.
- Read the table. A bulb is a circle with a cross inside it.circle with a cross
- Write the words. So the symbol is a circle with a cross inside it.circle with a cross
- Write the answer. a circle with a cross inside it
Check. The picture shows the same symbol. ✓
Method. Read the table.
- Read the table. An open switch is shown as a line with a gap in it.line with a gap
- Write the words. So the symbol is a line with a gap in it.line with a gap
- Write the answer. a line with a gap in it
Check. A closed switch has no gap. ✓
Method. Look at the cell symbol.
- Look at the symbol. A cell is drawn as a long thin line and a short thick line.one long line
- Write the number. So a cell has one long thin line.1
- Write the answer. 1
Check. The short thick line is the other part of the symbol. ✓
Watch out
Watch out: the long line is the positive end of a cell, and the short thick line is the negative end. Use the symbols exactly as they are drawn.
Exam tip
Exam tip. Draw the symbols neatly, use straight lines for wires, and draw a complete loop.
Try it (with your teacher, or a grown-up at home). Look at a simple circuit in a book or on a safe website, with a grown-up. Find the symbol for each part, and say its name aloud. Then draw the same circuit using symbols on paper.
Exercise 10D Circuit symbols
Method. Read the table.
- Read the table. A circle with a cross inside it is the symbol for a bulb.bulb
- Write the name. So the component is a bulb.bulb
- Write the answer. bulb
Check. The bulb symbol is drawn in the picture. ✓
Method. Read the table.
- Read the table. A cell is a long thin line and a short thick line.long thin line
- Write the words. So the symbol is a long thin line and a short thick line.long thin, short thick
- Write the answer. a long thin line and a short thick line
Check. The long line is the positive end. ✓
Method. Read the table.
- Read the table. A wire is a plain line.plain line
- Write the words. So the symbol is a plain line.plain line
- Write the answer. a plain line
Check. Wires are plain straight lines. ✓
Method. Read the table.
- Read the table. A motor is a circle with the letter M inside it.M
- Write the word. So the component is a motor.motor
- Write the answer. motor
Check. A motor is not statutory in Year 6, but the symbol is useful. ✓
Method. Read the table.
- Read the table. A battery is two or more cells drawn together.two or more
- Write the number. The symbol in the picture shows two cells.2
- Write the answer. 2
Check. A battery is more than one cell. ✓
Method. Read the table.
- Read the table. A closed switch is a line with no gap, joined all the way across.no gap
- Write the words. So the symbol is a line with no gap.no gap
- Write the answer. a line with no gap, joined all the way across
Check. The open switch has a gap. ✓
Method. Read the table.
- Read the table. The bulb symbol is a circle with a cross inside it.circle
- Decide. So the answer is yes.yes
- Write the answer. yes
Check. The cross is inside the circle. ✓
Method. Count the parts.
- Count. The loop has a cell, a bulb and a switch.three parts
- Write the number. So there are 3 symbols in the loop, not counting the wires.3
- Write the answer. 3
Check. The wires are the lines that join the symbols. ✓
Method. Read the table.
- Read the table. A cell has a long thin line and a short thick line.cell
- Write the name. So the component is a cell.cell
- Write the answer. cell
Check. A battery is two or more cells together. ✓
Method. Check the table.
- Check the table. The recognised symbol for a bulb is a circle with a cross inside it.circle
- Decide. So a square is not the recognised symbol, and the answer is no.no
- Write the answer. no
Check. Use the same symbols as the table. ✓
Method. Think about the reader.
- Think about the reader. Anyone who reads the diagram should understand it.anyone
- Think about the symbols. Recognised symbols are the same everywhere, so the diagram is clear.same everywhere
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence that says the same symbols let everyone read the same diagram, whatever language they speak.
Check. Symbols are a shared language. ✓
Method. Think about the diagram.
- Think about clarity. Straight lines make the path easy to follow.easy to follow
- Think about the convention. Straight lines are the usual way to draw wires in a diagram.usual
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence that says straight lines make the diagram neat and clear, so it is easy to follow the path of the current.
Check. Diagrams are drawn neatly. ✓