PRIMARY
P5 and P6 Science
Revision on
Set 4
Electricity
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Electricity
Electric Circuit
1 An electric circuit is made up of components such as wires, switches, bulbs and batteries
or other power sources.
battery – a source of energy
wire – connects the
components (parts)
switch – closes or in a circuit
opens a circuit
bulb – a source of light
2 A closed circuit allows electricity to flow through while an open circuit does not.
3 For a bulb to light up, the metal tip and metal casing must be properly connected to
opposite poles of the battery by wires as shown below.
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Circuit Symbols
4 The symbols shown in the table are used to represent the commonly used components
in an electric circuit.
Conductors and Insulators of Electricity
5 Electrical conductors allow electric current to pass through but electrical insulators
do not.
6 All metals are conductors of electricity.
7 Most non-metals such as wood, rubber and plastics are electrical insulators. Some
non-metals such as graphite (used to make pencil lead) are electrical conductors.
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Factors affecting Brightness of Bulbs
8 Number of batteries
The greater the number of batteries arranged in series, the brighter the bulb
because more current flows through the bulb.
A B C
Bulb C is the brightest and bulb A is the dimmest.
If too many batteries are used, the current becomes too strong and the
bulb’s filament may melt, causing the bulb to blow and the circuit to break.
9 Number and arrangement of bulbs
The greater the number of bulbs connected in series, the dimmer each bulb
will be because less current flows through the bulbs.
A B C
Bulb A is the brightest and bulb C is the dimmest.
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10 The brightness of the first bulb does not change when the number of bulbs in
parallel increases because the same amount of current flows through bulb.
When adding a bulb in parallel to an
existing bulb, draw the wires with the
new bulb around the existing bulb.
11 When the same number of bulbs and batteries are used in 2 circuits of different
arrangements, the bulbs in the parallel circuit will be brighter than those in the
series circuit.
2 bulbs in series 2 bulbs in parallel
Dimmer Brighter
12 To determine the brightness of bulbs, make use of the following formula:
Number of batteries
Brightness of each bulb =
Number of bulbs in the path
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Parallel Series and Parallel
For each path, 1 bulb is powered by 2 For each path, 2 bulbs are powered
batteries. by 2 batteries.
2 2
Brightness of each bulb = Brightness of each bulb =
1 2
= 2 units = 1 unit
13 The table below shows the advantages and disadvantages of arranging bulbs in series
and parallel.
Bulbs in series Bulbs in parallel
Bulbs are brighter in parallel
than in series if there are same
Bulbs draw less power from the number of bulbs and batteries.
Advantage
battery (battery lasts longer).
If one bulb fuses, the remaining
bulbs will still light up.
Bulbs are dimmer in series
than in parallel if there are
same number of bulbs and Bulbs draw more power from
batteries. the battery (battery is used up
Disadvantage
The remaining bulbs will NOT faster).
light up if one of the bulbs fuses
or is removed.
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Let’s Practise!
1. The switches, bulbs and batteries used in the circuits below are identical. All the bulbs
in the circuits are working.
Circuit X Circuit Y
Which of the following will be observed in circuits X and Y?
(1) Bulbs in both circuits will have the same brightness.
(2) Bulbs in circuit Y are brighter than the bulbs in circuit X.
(3) Bulbs in circuit X are brighter than the bulbs in circuit Y.
(4) Bulbs in circuit X will remain lit longer than the bulbs in circuit Y. ( 3 )
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2. Identical batteries, bulbs and wires are used to set up circuits S, T, U and V as shown
below.
Circuit S Circuit T
Circuit U Circuit V
Which of the following statements about these circuits is/are correct?
A: Bulb in S is the most brightly lit.
B: Bulbs in U are most dimly lit.
C: Bulbs in T and V are equally bright.
D: Bulb in V is as bright as bulb in S.
(1) D only (2) A and B only
(3) C and D only (4) A, B and C only ( 4 )
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3. Four circuits using identical bulbs and batteries were set up.
In which circuit would bulb Q be the brightest?
(1) (2)
Q Q
(3) (4)
( 1 )
4. Identical bulbs Q, R and S are used in the circuit.
Q
R
Which change will allow all bulbs to light up with equal brightness?
(1) Add one more battery
(2) Add an identical bulb in series to S.
(3) Add an identical bulb in parallel to S.
(4) Add an identical bulb in parallel to Q and R. ( 2 )
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5. Wen Qi connected identical bulbs and batteries to form a circuit. She noticed that both
bulbs did not light up even though she had replaced it with several new ones.
A
switch
Draw a circuit below using the same number of electrical components such that bulbs
A and B will light up. (2 m) Commented [MU1]: [1] for correct connection of
batteries
[1] for correct connection of bulbs
switch
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6. Study the diagram below carefully. The iron cylinder and electric circuit are fixed in
place. The iron striker can swing about point P. A spring is fixed to the iron striker and
the other end of the spring is fixed.
fixed iron
cylinder coiled iron striker
with wire (can swing about P)
bell
spring (fixed to iron
striker and wall)
P
wall
(a) Describe what will happen when the switch is closed. (1 m)
Electric current will flow through the circuit, making the iron
________________________________________________________
cylinder an electromagnet, thus attracting the iron striker.
________________________________________________________
(b) When the switch is opened, a ‘ding’ sound can be heard. Explain why.
(2 m)
The iron cylinder loses its magnetism and no longer attracts the
________________________________________________________
iron striker, so the iron striker will be pulled by the spring and hit
________________________________________________________
the bell, producing a ‘ding’ sound.
________________________________________________________
(c) State a change that can be done to the set-up to produce a softer ‘ding’ sound.
(1 m)
Use a spring which is less stiff / Remove 1 or 2 batteries /
________________________________________________________
Reduce number of coils of wire around iron cylinder
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7. Alex sets up a circuit with identical bulbs X, Y and Z, and batteries so that the bulbs
work as described below.
bulb X lights up when bulb Y lights up,
all three bulbs light up when the switch is closed,
only bulb Z lights up when the switch is opened.
(a) The diagram below shows part of Alex’s circuit. Complete the circuit so that it
works as described. (3 m) Commented [MU2]: [1] for correct arrangement of X
and Y
[1] for correct arrangement of switch and Z
Y
[1] for correct connection of batteries and bulbs
X Z
fixed metal plates
(b) Comment on the final brightness of the bulbs after another identical bulb is
connected in series to bulb Z and the switch is closed. (1 m)
The bulbs have the same brightness.
_____________________________________________________________
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8. Identical bulbs P, Q and R, are used in the circuit shown. When the switch is closed,
the magnet moves between points A and B repeatedly.
P
metal
contact
B
Q
magnet A
R metal
contact
fixed iron rod
(a) Explain why the magnet moves between A and B repeatedly when the switch
is closed. (2 m)
When the switch is closed, current flows through the circuit. The
_____________________________________________________________
iron rod becomes an electromagnet and repels the magnet from
_____________________________________________________________
A to B. [1] As there is a gap at A, it becomes an open circuit and
_____________________________________________________________
the iron rod stops working as an electromagnet so the magnet
_____________________________________________________________
falls back to A. This closes the circuit again at A and the process
_____________________________________________________________
repeats itself. [1]
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
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(b) When the magnet is at B, state how the brightness of bulb P changes.
Explain your answer. (2 m)
Bulb P will be brighter. [1] More current flows through P when
_____________________________________________________________
the magnet is at B as there are only 2 bulbs connected in series
_____________________________________________________________
compared to 3 when the magnet is at A. [1]
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
(c) After operating for a few hours, the magnet moves slower than before.
State another change to the movement of the magnet. Explain your answer.
(2 m)
It moves up to a lower height than before. [1]
_____________________________________________________________
The battery is being used up so less current flows in the circuit.
_____________________________________________________________
This forms a weaker electromagnet so the repulsion with the
_____________________________________________________________
magnet is weaker. [1]
_____________________________________________________________
or
It moves up to a lower height than before. [1]
There is less (chemical) potential energy in the batteries available
to be converted to less electrical energy. This forms a weaker
electromagnet so the repulsion with the magnet is weaker. [1]
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