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 7-9
Conductors, insulators & circuits
Take your time. Show your thinking.
1. If you add a second cell in series (pointing in the same direction, + to −) to a circuit with a single bulb, what happens to the bulb: it shines more brightly because the voltage pushing the current has doubled, or it goes out?
Cell (+) ── Switch ── (−) · Closed Series Loop
2. 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
3. Which circuit instrument is connected IN PARALLEL across a component to measure the potential difference (voltage) in volts (V): a voltmeter or an ammeter?
Cell (+) ── Switch ── (−) · Closed Series Loop
4. 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
5. 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
6. Why should you NEVER touch mains electrical switches, plugs or sockets with wet hands: tap water contains dissolved salts (ions) that conduct electricity and can cause a dangerous electric shock, or water freezes the switch?
Cell (+) ── Switch ── (−) · Closed Series Loop
7. 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
8. 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
9. 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
10. In a standard circuit diagram, what component is represented by a circle with the letter “M” inside it: an electric motor or a buzzer?
Cell (+) ── Switch ── (−) · Closed Series Loop
11. Materials such as copper, aluminium, silver and steel that allow electric current to flow through them easily are called: electrical conductors or electrical insulators?
Cell (+) ── Switch ── (−) · Closed Series Loop
12. Which circuit instrument is connected IN SERIES in a loop to measure the electric current in amperes (A): an ammeter or a voltmeter?
Cell (+) ── Switch ── (−) · Closed Series Loop
12 questions · Seed 104749 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification
View the answer key
Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 7-9
Conductors, insulators & circuits
Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.
1. If you add a second cell in series (pointing in the same direction, + to −) to a circuit with a single bulb, what happens to the bulb: it shines more brightly because the voltage pushing the current has doubled, or it goes out?
It shines more brightly because the voltage pushing the current has doubled
Two 1.5 V cells connected correctly in series supply 3.0 V, increasing the current through the bulb.
2. 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.
3. Which circuit instrument is connected IN PARALLEL across a component to measure the potential difference (voltage) in volts (V): a voltmeter or an ammeter?
Voltmeter
A voltmeter has very high resistance and is connected across (in parallel with) a component.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Why should you NEVER touch mains electrical switches, plugs or sockets with wet hands: tap water contains dissolved salts (ions) that conduct electricity and can cause a dangerous electric shock, or water freezes the switch?
Tap water contains dissolved salts (ions) that conduct electricity and can cause a dangerous electric shock
Impure water is an electrical conductor and lowers the electrical resistance of skin.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. In a standard circuit diagram, what component is represented by a circle with the letter “M” inside it: an electric motor or a buzzer?
Electric motor
A circle with an “M” represents an electric motor that converts electrical energy into kinetic rotation.
11. Materials such as copper, aluminium, silver and steel that allow electric current to flow through them easily are called: electrical conductors or electrical insulators?
Electrical conductors
Metals have free-moving (delocalised) electrons that conduct electric current readily.
12. Which circuit instrument is connected IN SERIES in a loop to measure the electric current in amperes (A): an ammeter or a voltmeter?
Ammeter
An ammeter has very low resistance and is placed in series so all the current flows through it.
12 questions · Seed 104749 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification
Worksheet StudioPractice pack · Ages 7-9
Conductors, insulators & circuits
Take your time. Show your thinking.
1. If you add a second cell in series (pointing in the same direction, + to −) to a circuit with a single bulb, what happens to the bulb: it shines more brightly because the voltage pushing the current has doubled, or it goes out?
Cell (+) ── Switch ── (−) · Closed Series Loop
2. 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
3. Which circuit instrument is connected IN PARALLEL across a component to measure the potential difference (voltage) in volts (V): a voltmeter or an ammeter?
Cell (+) ── Switch ── (−) · Closed Series Loop
4. 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
5. 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
6. Why should you NEVER touch mains electrical switches, plugs or sockets with wet hands: tap water contains dissolved salts (ions) that conduct electricity and can cause a dangerous electric shock, or water freezes the switch?
Cell (+) ── Switch ── (−) · Closed Series Loop
7. 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
8. 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
9. 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
10. In a standard circuit diagram, what component is represented by a circle with the letter “M” inside it: an electric motor or a buzzer?
Cell (+) ── Switch ── (−) · Closed Series Loop
11. Materials such as copper, aluminium, silver and steel that allow electric current to flow through them easily are called: electrical conductors or electrical insulators?
Cell (+) ── Switch ── (−) · Closed Series Loop
12. Which circuit instrument is connected IN SERIES in a loop to measure the electric current in amperes (A): an ammeter or a voltmeter?
Cell (+) ── Switch ── (−) · Closed Series Loop
12 questions · Seed 104749 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification
Worksheet StudioAnswer key · Ages 7-9
Conductors, insulators & circuits
Answers and reasoning. Review before teaching.
1. If you add a second cell in series (pointing in the same direction, + to −) to a circuit with a single bulb, what happens to the bulb: it shines more brightly because the voltage pushing the current has doubled, or it goes out?
It shines more brightly because the voltage pushing the current has doubled
Two 1.5 V cells connected correctly in series supply 3.0 V, increasing the current through the bulb.
2. 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.
3. Which circuit instrument is connected IN PARALLEL across a component to measure the potential difference (voltage) in volts (V): a voltmeter or an ammeter?
Voltmeter
A voltmeter has very high resistance and is connected across (in parallel with) a component.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Why should you NEVER touch mains electrical switches, plugs or sockets with wet hands: tap water contains dissolved salts (ions) that conduct electricity and can cause a dangerous electric shock, or water freezes the switch?
Tap water contains dissolved salts (ions) that conduct electricity and can cause a dangerous electric shock
Impure water is an electrical conductor and lowers the electrical resistance of skin.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. In a standard circuit diagram, what component is represented by a circle with the letter “M” inside it: an electric motor or a buzzer?
Electric motor
A circle with an “M” represents an electric motor that converts electrical energy into kinetic rotation.
11. Materials such as copper, aluminium, silver and steel that allow electric current to flow through them easily are called: electrical conductors or electrical insulators?
Electrical conductors
Metals have free-moving (delocalised) electrons that conduct electric current readily.
12. Which circuit instrument is connected IN SERIES in a loop to measure the electric current in amperes (A): an ammeter or a voltmeter?
Ammeter
An ammeter has very low resistance and is placed in series so all the current flows through it.
12 questions · Seed 104749 · Age guidance, not curriculum certification