Skip to content
Dabour HubLEARN · PRACTICE · EXPLORESign inStudent

Unit 9: Electricity and circuits

Adding or removing components — HIA International - Grade 6 Revision Notes & Topical Questions

5 min read 7 parts Lesson 14 of 16 2 quizzes

📚 HIA International - Grade 6 Hub / Topical Revision
🩺
100% Curriculum Specification Match Lesson Doctor Verified
The only platform with 100% curriculum specification match and verified interactive question banks.
0%read
Lesson summary

9.5 Adding or removing components — HIA INTERNATIONAL notes: Predict how adding or removing cells and lamps changes the current in a series circuit.Same everywhere — current is the same at all points in a series circuit.Train model — all parts of a train move at the same speed, j…

  • Ammeter position
  • Order of components
  • More cells
  • Energy transfer
  • More lamps
  • Effect on electrons

Part 1 of 5Current in a series circuit

Current in a series circuit
Same everywhere
  • Same everywhere current is the same at all points in a series circuit.
Train model
  • Train model all parts of a train move at the same speed, just as electrons do in the wires.
Ammeter position
  • Ammeter position the ammeter reads the same wherever it is placed.
Order of components
  • Order of components changing the order does not change the current.

Part 2 of 5Adding or removing cells

More cells
  • More cells they supply more chemical energy to change to electrical energy.
Effect
  • Effect the current increases and the lamp is brighter.
Two cells
  • Two cells double the electrical energy, so the current doubles in the example.
Removing cells
  • Removing cells decreases the current when other components stay the same.
Caution
  • Caution too many cells can damage lamps and make wires hot.

Part 3 of 5Adding or removing lamps

Energy transfer
  • Energy transfer electrons pass energy to a lamp, which changes it to light and thermal energy.
More lamps
  • More lamps more energy is transferred, so the lamps are dimmer.
Effect on electrons
  • Effect on electrons they move more slowly, so the current decreases.
Two lamps
  • Two lamps transfer twice as much energy and halve the current in the example.
Removing lamps
  • Removing lamps increases the current when the other components stay the same.

Part 4 of 5Effects of changing cells and lamps

ChangeEffect on currentEffect on lamps
Add a cellIncreasesBrighter
Remove a cellDecreasesDimmer
Add a lampDecreasesDimmer
Remove a lampIncreasesBrighter

Part 5 of 5Measuring current when components change

1
Build a circuit with 3 cells, 3 lamps, an ammeter, wires and a switch.
2
Close the switch and record the current with one lamp.
3
Add a second lamp and then a third lamp, recording the current each time.
4
Repeat with one, two and then three cells with the lamps kept the same.
5
Display the results as a bar chart or table and write a conclusion.
  • Safety
    • never remove all lamps leaving only cells, never connect an ammeter directly across cells, and switch off if a lamp is too bright.

Key terms

TermMeaning
Series circuitA circuit with all components in one loop.
CurrentThe flow of electrons in a circuit.
AmmeterA device that measures current.
DimmerGiving out less light.
CellA source of electrical energy.
ComponentA part of a circuit.
Energy transferElectrons passing energy to components.
Bar chartA display of results for separate categories.

Avoid these mistakes

1
Saying more lamps make the current larger — more lamps make it smaller.
2
Saying current changes from one part of a series circuit to another — it is the same.
3
Thinking more cells make lamps dimmer — they make them brighter.
4
Removing all lamps from a circuit — this can damage the circuit.

Last updated: