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Unit 9: Electricity and circuits

GRADE 6 – Unit 9: Electricity and circuits — HIA International - Grade 6 Revision Notes & Topical Questions

5 min read 9 parts Lesson 1 of 16 1 quiz

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Lesson summary

GRADE 6 - Unit 9: Electricity and circuits — HIA INTERNATIONAL notes: Describe current as a flow of electrons, draw circuits and predict how current changes in a series circuit.Cell = stores chemical energy and changes it to electrical energy.Current = the flow of electrons aroun…

  • Complete circuit
  • Circuit diagram
  • Cell symbol
  • Drawing rules
  • Electron speed
  • Circuit symbol

Section 1 of 9Current and electrons

Cell
Cell stores chemical energy and changes it to electrical energy.
Current
Current the flow of electrons around a circuit.
Electrons
  • Electrons negatively charged particles that are free to move in metals.
Direction
  • Direction electrons flow from the negative terminal to the positive terminal;
    • conventional current is shown the opposite way.
Complete circuit
  • Complete circuit current flows only in an unbroken loop.

Section 2 of 9Circuit diagrams and symbols

Circuit diagram
  • Circuit diagram uses standard symbols and straight lines for wires.
Symbols
  • Symbols cell, switch, lamp, buzzer and ammeter.
    • (open and closed)
Cell symbol
  • Cell symbol the longer line is positive and the shorter line is negative.
Drawing rules
  • Drawing rules no gaps and no wires through components.

Section 3 of 9Measuring current

Unit
  • Unit amps (A), with 1 A = 1000 mA.
Ammeter
  • Ammeter measures current and is connected in series with the red terminal towards the positive side.
Series circuit
  • Series circuit current is the same at every point.
Electron speed
  • Electron speed a bigger current means faster electron flow.

Section 4 of 9Conductors and insulators

TypeElectronsExamplesUses
ConductorFree to moveAll metals, graphiteCopper wires, copper tracks
InsulatorNot free to movePlastic, wood, air, cottonWire coatings, plug bodies

Section 5 of 9Testing conductors and insulators

1
Build a circuit with a cell, lamp and two crocodile clips.
2
Touch the clips together to check it works.
3
Connect each material between the clips.
4
If the lamp lights the material is a conductor.

Section 6 of 9Changing a series circuit

ChangeCurrentLamp brightness
Add a cellIncreasesBrighter
Remove a cellDecreasesDimmer
Add a lampDecreasesDimmer
Remove a lampIncreasesBrighter

Section 7 of 9Energy in circuits

Cells
  • Cells supply the energy.
Electrons
  • Electrons carry the energy round the circuit and are not used up.
Lamps
  • Lamps change electrical energy to light and thermal energy.

Section 8 of 9Key terms

TermMeaning
CurrentThe flow of electrons in a circuit.
ElectronA negatively charged particle.
AmmeterA device that measures current.
Series circuitA circuit with one loop.
ConductorA material that lets current flow.
InsulatorA material that stops current flowing.
Circuit symbolA standard picture of a component.
AmpThe unit of current.

Section 9 of 9Exam technique

1
Saying current is used up by lamps — it is the same all round a series circuit.
2
Placing the ammeter across a component — it must be in series.
3
Confusing conductors and insulators — conductors have free electrons.
4
Saying more lamps make a brighter circuit — they make each lamp dimmer.
5
Drawing wires through components in a circuit diagram.

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