Success Homeschool

Primary 6 Science · Electric circuits

Name: ______________________

Date: ____________

1. What is needed for a bulb in a circuit to light?
- ☐ (a) One wire from the battery to the bulb
- ☐ (b) A complete, unbroken loop from the battery, through the bulb and back to the battery
- ☐ (c) A plastic wire
- ☐ (d) A bulb touching a battery anywhere
2. Which of these is a conductor?
- ☐ (a) A plastic ruler
- ☐ (b) A rubber band
- ☐ (c) A steel paperclip
- ☐ (d) A wooden peg
3. Why are electrical wires coated in plastic?
- ☐ (a) Plastic is an insulator, so it keeps electricity in the wire and protects us
- ☐ (b) Plastic makes electricity flow faster
- ☐ (c) Plastic is a conductor
- ☐ (d) To make the wires heavier
4. In a circuit, the switch is open. What happens to the bulb?
- ☐ (a) It glows brighter
- ☐ (b) It flickers
- ☐ (c) It stays on
- ☐ (d) It goes off because there is a gap in the circuit
5. In a circuit diagram, what does a circle with a cross inside it stand for?
- ☐ (a) A cell
- ☐ (b) A lamp (bulb)
- ☐ (c) A switch
- ☐ (d) A wire
6. A material that does not let electricity flow through it easily is called an ________.
7. When a switch is open, is the circuit complete or broken?
8. Which metal is found inside most electrical wires?

Answer sheet

1. A complete, unbroken loop from the battery, through the bulb and back to the battery — Electricity flows only around a complete circuit.
2. A steel paperclip — Steel is a metal, and metals conduct electricity.
3. Plastic is an insulator, so it keeps electricity in the wire and protects us — Plastic does not conduct electricity, so it stops the electricity escaping into our hands or other wires.
4. It goes off because there is a gap in the circuit — An open switch makes a gap, so the circuit is broken and no electricity flows.
5. A lamp (bulb) — A circle with a cross is the symbol for a lamp.
6. insulator — Plastic, rubber, wood and glass are insulators.
7. broken — An open switch leaves a gap, so the circuit is broken (open).
8. copper — Copper is an excellent conductor and bends easily, so it is used in most wires.