Compare conductors and insulators, series and parallel circuits, switches, fuses and circuit symbols. Review suitability for your learners before teaching.
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Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 10-12
Conductors, insulators & circuits
Take your time. Show your thinking.
1. For an electric current to flow and light up a bulb, what kind of path must the circuit form from one terminal of the battery to the other: a complete (closed) loop with no gaps, or a broken (open) loop?
Cell (+) ── Switch ── (−) · Closed Series Loop
2. What happens if two identical cells in a torch are put in facing opposite directions (+ touching +): their voltages cancel out and the bulb will not light, or the bulb shines twice as bright?
Cell (+) ── Switch ── (−) · Closed Series Loop
3. What is the role of the cell or battery in an electrical circuit: it provides the electrical energy (potential difference / voltage) that pushes charges around the circuit, or it absorbs light?
Cell (+) ── Switch ── (−) · Closed Series Loop
4. In a simple SERIES circuit containing one battery and two bulbs, if you add a third identical bulb in the same single loop, what happens to the brightness of the bulbs: they become dimmer because the voltage is shared and total resistance increases, or they become three times brighter?
Cell (+) ── Switch ── (−) · Closed Series Loop
5. Materials such as plastic, rubber, glass and dry wood that do NOT allow electric current to flow through them are called: electrical insulators or electrical conductors?
Cell (+) ── Switch ── (−) · Closed Series Loop
6. What component has a resistance that changes significantly with temperature (used in digital thermometers and thermostats): a thermistor or a loudspeaker?
Cell (+) ── Switch ── (−) · Closed Series Loop
7. Which non-metal form of carbon (used in pencil leads) is an exception because it DOES conduct electricity: graphite or rubber?
Cell (+) ── Switch ── (−) · Closed Series Loop
8. What component has a resistance that decreases when brighter light shines on it (used in automatic street lights): a light-dependent resistor (LDR) or a thermistor?
Cell (+) ── Switch ── (−) · Closed Series Loop
9. In a series circuit, how does the electric current measured at different points around the single loop compare: the current is the SAME at every point in a series loop, or it gets used up by the bulb?
Cell (+) ── Switch ── (−) · Closed Series Loop
10. In a standard circuit diagram, what component is represented by a circle with an “X” (cross) inside it: a filament lamp (bulb) or a battery?
Cell (+) ── Switch ── (−) · Closed Series Loop
11. What circuit component allows current to flow in ONE direction only (and emits light when it is an LED): a diode (or light-emitting diode) or a fixed resistor?
Cell (+) ── Switch ── (−) · Closed Series Loop
12. In a simple SERIES circuit with two bulbs in a single loop, if one bulb’s filament breaks (blows), what happens to the other bulb: it goes out too because the single circuit loop is broken, or it stays lit?
Cell (+) ── Switch ── (−) · Closed Series Loop
12 questions · Seed 104735 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification
View the answer key
Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 10-12
Conductors, insulators & circuits
Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.
1. For an electric current to flow and light up a bulb, what kind of path must the circuit form from one terminal of the battery to the other: a complete (closed) loop with no gaps, or a broken (open) loop?
A complete (closed) loop with no gaps
Current only flows around a continuous, closed conducting pathway.
2. What happens if two identical cells in a torch are put in facing opposite directions (+ touching +): their voltages cancel out and the bulb will not light, or the bulb shines twice as bright?
Their voltages cancel out and the bulb will not light
Cells in series must be aligned positive-to-negative so their voltages add together.
3. What is the role of the cell or battery in an electrical circuit: it provides the electrical energy (potential difference / voltage) that pushes charges around the circuit, or it absorbs light?
It provides the electrical energy (potential difference / voltage) that pushes charges around the circuit
A cell converts stored chemical energy into electrical energy.
4. In a simple SERIES circuit containing one battery and two bulbs, if you add a third identical bulb in the same single loop, what happens to the brightness of the bulbs: they become dimmer because the voltage is shared and total resistance increases, or they become three times brighter?
They become dimmer because the voltage is shared and total resistance increases
In a series loop, adding more bulbs increases resistance and splits the battery voltage across more components.
5. Materials such as plastic, rubber, glass and dry wood that do NOT allow electric current to flow through them are called: electrical insulators or electrical conductors?
Electrical insulators
Insulators have tightly bound electrons and block the flow of electric current.
6. What component has a resistance that changes significantly with temperature (used in digital thermometers and thermostats): a thermistor or a loudspeaker?
Thermistor
A thermistor is a temperature-sensitive resistor.
7. Which non-metal form of carbon (used in pencil leads) is an exception because it DOES conduct electricity: graphite or rubber?
Graphite
Graphite has delocalised electrons between its carbon layers, allowing it to conduct electricity.
8. What component has a resistance that decreases when brighter light shines on it (used in automatic street lights): a light-dependent resistor (LDR) or a thermistor?
Light-dependent resistor (LDR)
In bright light an LDR’s resistance falls; in darkness its resistance rises.
9. In a series circuit, how does the electric current measured at different points around the single loop compare: the current is the SAME at every point in a series loop, or it gets used up by the bulb?
The current is the SAME at every point in a series loop
Charge is conserved—the same number of coulombs per second passes every point in a single loop; energy is transferred, not current used up.
10. In a standard circuit diagram, what component is represented by a circle with an “X” (cross) inside it: a filament lamp (bulb) or a battery?
Filament lamp (bulb)
A circle containing a cross is the standard circuit symbol for an indicator or lighting lamp.
11. What circuit component allows current to flow in ONE direction only (and emits light when it is an LED): a diode (or light-emitting diode) or a fixed resistor?
Diode (or light-emitting diode)
A diode has low resistance in the forward direction and very high resistance in reverse.
12. In a simple SERIES circuit with two bulbs in a single loop, if one bulb’s filament breaks (blows), what happens to the other bulb: it goes out too because the single circuit loop is broken, or it stays lit?
It goes out too because the single circuit loop is broken
A break anywhere in a series loop stops current throughout the entire loop.
12 questions · Seed 104735 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification
Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 10-12
Conductors, insulators & circuits
Take your time. Show your thinking.
1. For an electric current to flow and light up a bulb, what kind of path must the circuit form from one terminal of the battery to the other: a complete (closed) loop with no gaps, or a broken (open) loop?
Cell (+) ── Switch ── (−) · Closed Series Loop
2. What happens if two identical cells in a torch are put in facing opposite directions (+ touching +): their voltages cancel out and the bulb will not light, or the bulb shines twice as bright?
Cell (+) ── Switch ── (−) · Closed Series Loop
3. What is the role of the cell or battery in an electrical circuit: it provides the electrical energy (potential difference / voltage) that pushes charges around the circuit, or it absorbs light?
Cell (+) ── Switch ── (−) · Closed Series Loop
4. In a simple SERIES circuit containing one battery and two bulbs, if you add a third identical bulb in the same single loop, what happens to the brightness of the bulbs: they become dimmer because the voltage is shared and total resistance increases, or they become three times brighter?
Cell (+) ── Switch ── (−) · Closed Series Loop
5. Materials such as plastic, rubber, glass and dry wood that do NOT allow electric current to flow through them are called: electrical insulators or electrical conductors?
Cell (+) ── Switch ── (−) · Closed Series Loop
6. What component has a resistance that changes significantly with temperature (used in digital thermometers and thermostats): a thermistor or a loudspeaker?
Cell (+) ── Switch ── (−) · Closed Series Loop
7. Which non-metal form of carbon (used in pencil leads) is an exception because it DOES conduct electricity: graphite or rubber?
Cell (+) ── Switch ── (−) · Closed Series Loop
8. What component has a resistance that decreases when brighter light shines on it (used in automatic street lights): a light-dependent resistor (LDR) or a thermistor?
Cell (+) ── Switch ── (−) · Closed Series Loop
9. In a series circuit, how does the electric current measured at different points around the single loop compare: the current is the SAME at every point in a series loop, or it gets used up by the bulb?
Cell (+) ── Switch ── (−) · Closed Series Loop
10. In a standard circuit diagram, what component is represented by a circle with an “X” (cross) inside it: a filament lamp (bulb) or a battery?
Cell (+) ── Switch ── (−) · Closed Series Loop
11. What circuit component allows current to flow in ONE direction only (and emits light when it is an LED): a diode (or light-emitting diode) or a fixed resistor?
Cell (+) ── Switch ── (−) · Closed Series Loop
12. In a simple SERIES circuit with two bulbs in a single loop, if one bulb’s filament breaks (blows), what happens to the other bulb: it goes out too because the single circuit loop is broken, or it stays lit?
Cell (+) ── Switch ── (−) · Closed Series Loop
12 questions · Seed 104735 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification
Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 10-12
Conductors, insulators & circuits
Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.
1. For an electric current to flow and light up a bulb, what kind of path must the circuit form from one terminal of the battery to the other: a complete (closed) loop with no gaps, or a broken (open) loop?
A complete (closed) loop with no gaps
Current only flows around a continuous, closed conducting pathway.
2. What happens if two identical cells in a torch are put in facing opposite directions (+ touching +): their voltages cancel out and the bulb will not light, or the bulb shines twice as bright?
Their voltages cancel out and the bulb will not light
Cells in series must be aligned positive-to-negative so their voltages add together.
3. What is the role of the cell or battery in an electrical circuit: it provides the electrical energy (potential difference / voltage) that pushes charges around the circuit, or it absorbs light?
It provides the electrical energy (potential difference / voltage) that pushes charges around the circuit
A cell converts stored chemical energy into electrical energy.
4. In a simple SERIES circuit containing one battery and two bulbs, if you add a third identical bulb in the same single loop, what happens to the brightness of the bulbs: they become dimmer because the voltage is shared and total resistance increases, or they become three times brighter?
They become dimmer because the voltage is shared and total resistance increases
In a series loop, adding more bulbs increases resistance and splits the battery voltage across more components.
5. Materials such as plastic, rubber, glass and dry wood that do NOT allow electric current to flow through them are called: electrical insulators or electrical conductors?
Electrical insulators
Insulators have tightly bound electrons and block the flow of electric current.
6. What component has a resistance that changes significantly with temperature (used in digital thermometers and thermostats): a thermistor or a loudspeaker?
Thermistor
A thermistor is a temperature-sensitive resistor.
7. Which non-metal form of carbon (used in pencil leads) is an exception because it DOES conduct electricity: graphite or rubber?
Graphite
Graphite has delocalised electrons between its carbon layers, allowing it to conduct electricity.
8. What component has a resistance that decreases when brighter light shines on it (used in automatic street lights): a light-dependent resistor (LDR) or a thermistor?
Light-dependent resistor (LDR)
In bright light an LDR’s resistance falls; in darkness its resistance rises.
9. In a series circuit, how does the electric current measured at different points around the single loop compare: the current is the SAME at every point in a series loop, or it gets used up by the bulb?
The current is the SAME at every point in a series loop
Charge is conserved—the same number of coulombs per second passes every point in a single loop; energy is transferred, not current used up.
10. In a standard circuit diagram, what component is represented by a circle with an “X” (cross) inside it: a filament lamp (bulb) or a battery?
Filament lamp (bulb)
A circle containing a cross is the standard circuit symbol for an indicator or lighting lamp.
11. What circuit component allows current to flow in ONE direction only (and emits light when it is an LED): a diode (or light-emitting diode) or a fixed resistor?
Diode (or light-emitting diode)
A diode has low resistance in the forward direction and very high resistance in reverse.
12. In a simple SERIES circuit with two bulbs in a single loop, if one bulb’s filament breaks (blows), what happens to the other bulb: it goes out too because the single circuit loop is broken, or it stays lit?
It goes out too because the single circuit loop is broken
A break anywhere in a series loop stops current throughout the entire loop.
12 questions · Seed 104735 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification