Year 7 Science

Activity pack
Electricity
Task Description
Electric Circuits – Learn how to:
• Compare electrical conductors and electrical insulators.
1 • Identify the different components in a circuit
• Draw electrical circuits
Energy in circuits – Learn how to:
2 • Describe potential difference
• Calculate the potential difference for components in a circuit
Series circuits– Learn how to:
• Identify a series circuit
3 • Describe what happens to the potential difference and current in a series circuit.
• Calculate potential difference, current and resistance in a series circuit
Parallel Circuits – Learn how to:
• Identify and draw a parallel circuit
4 • Describe what happens to the potential difference and current in a parallel circuit
• Compare series and parallel circuits
Resistance – Learn how to:
• Define resistance
5 • Calculate resistance in a series circuit
• Draw a graph of how resistance changes with potential difference
Static electricity - Learn how to:
• Describe the difference between current and static.
6 • Describe what happens when an object is charged.

• Your work for this topic is separated into lessons.

• You should aim to complete one lesson in every Science slot
on your timetable.
• Don’t worry if you can’t complete all the tasks. Choose things that are at a level you
feel confident at.
• If you need some help and support, use the information in blue on the pages. If you
have access to the internet, then use BBC Bitesize KS3 “Electricity” topic areas to find
any extra information – although you may not need it!
A quiz for this topic will be available on Educake from 22/06/20.
If you need your username please e-mail student.ictsupport@rastrick.calderdale.sch.uk
Checklist
Progress
Objective
Red Amber Green
• I can compare electrical conductors and
Electrical electrical insulators.
circuits • I can identify different components
• Draw electrical circuits
• I can describe potential difference
Energy in • I can calculate potential difference using
circuits V=IxR

• I can identify and draw a series circuit.

• I can describe what happens to potential
Series circuits difference and current in a series circuit.
• I can calculate potential difference,
current and resistance in a series circuit.
• I can identify and draw a parallel circuit.
• I can describe what happens to potential
Parallel
difference and current in a parallel circuit.
circuits
• I can compare the key differences
between a series and parallel circuit.
• I can define resistance.
• Calculate resistance in a series circuit.
Resistance
• Draw a graph of how current changes
with potential difference.
• I can describe the difference between
current and static.
Static • I can describe what could cause a build-
electricity up of static
• I can describe what happens when an
object is charged.
Glossary Fill this in as you work
through the booklet 3

Key term Definition

Electricity

Component

Series Circuit

Parallel Circuit

Current
Potential
Difference
Resistance

Static Electricity

Non-contact force

Electric field

Energy

Charge

Electron
 Lesson 1 - Electric Circuits

Describe what is happening in the picture.

_____________________________
_____________________________
_____________________________
 We can easily draw electrical circuits by following some simple rules

1. Use a ruler to draw straight lines to represent the wires.

2. Use the correct circuit symbols to represent different components.
3. Ensure that the circuit is closed and has no gaps.

Write down as many things as possible that is wrong with the circuit below?

1. _______________________

2. _______________________

3.________________________
1. Draw a circuit with a battery, 2 lamps and a switch.

2. Draw a circuit with a cell and 1 lamp.

Are these sentences true or false?

1. Circuits will work if there is a gap in them _______________

2. The current is the same all over the circuit ______________
3. A voltmeter measures current ________________________
4. Electrical conductors will not allow current to pass through ________
5. All metals are good conductors of electricity ____________________
6. The current in a circuit gets used up ___________________________
 Lesson 2 - Understanding energy in circuits
What is Potential Difference?
Potential difference is the energy that causes a current to flow around a circuit.

If there is no potential difference, then there can be no current flowing because there is no
energy.

The symbol for potential difference is V and the unit is Volts (V).

Potential difference is measured using a voltmeter.

Why is 1 bulb brighter than the other?

_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________

Fill in the gaps using the words below

Potential difference is
___________ between the components in Key words:
Equal
a series circuit. The total potential
Shared
difference in the circuit is ________ to the Equally
potential difference across the cell /
battery. Providing the bulbs are the same,
the potential difference will be shared
___________ between them.
Look at the four circuits – rank them in order for the highest
potential difference.

cvv
Match the number to the correct letter.
 Lesson 3 - Series Circuits
Match the circuit symbols to their definitions

In a series circuit, if
Series circuits a component breaks
or is disconnected,
the current cannot
flow and the circuit
stops working.

The current is the

same everywhere in
a series circuit.

This means each

component has the
same current.
V – Potential Difference (Volts)
I – Current (amps)
R – Resistance (ohms)
 Lesson 4 - Parallel circuits

Potential Current splits for

difference is the each branch and is
same in every therefore shared by
branch. each component.
Lesson 5 - Resistance
 Round to the nearest whole number.
Task 2 – Draw a graph of your results (from the table above). Turn
over for graph paper.

Don’t forget….

• Use a pencil and ruler

• Plan your graph before you begin to draw it
• Label your axis (including a unit)
• Draw a line of best fit
Lesson 6 - Static Electricity
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
 Year 7 Science
Activity pack
Electricity
Forces
Task Description
Electric Circuits – Learn how to:
• Compare electrical conductors and electrical insulators.
1 • Identify the different components in a circuit
• Draw electrical circuits
Energy in circuits – Learn how to:
2 • Describe potential difference
• Calculate the potential difference for components in a circuit
Series circuits– Learn how to:
• Identify a series circuit
3 • Describe what happens to the potential difference and current in a series circuit.
• Calculate potential difference, current and resistance in a series circuit
Parallel Circuits – Learn how to:
• Identify and draw a parallel circuit
4 • Describe what happens to the potential difference and current in a parallel circuit
• Compare series and parallel circuits
Resistance – Learn how to:
• Define resistance
5 • Calculate resistance in a series circuit
• Draw a graph of how resistance changes with potential difference
Static electricity - Learn how to:
• Describe the difference between current and static.
6 • Describe what happens when an object is charged.

• Your work for this topic is separated into lessons.

• You should aim to complete one lesson in every Science slot
on your timetable.
• Don’t worry if you can’t complete all the tasks. Choose things that are at a level you
feel confident at.
• If you need some help and support, use the information in blue on the pages. If you
have access to the internet, then use BBC Bitesize KS3 “Electricity” topic areas to find
any extra information – although you may not need it!
Electricity 1 Home Learning
Answers
 Lesson 1 - Electric Circuits
Describe what is happening in the picture.
The person has burnt his hand due to the heat
passing through the pan
Substances that allow heat and electricity to pass
through them are called conductors

Insulator
Conductor
Conductor

Insulator
Conductor
Conductor
Conductor
Insulator
 We can easily draw electrical circuits by following some simple rules

1. Use a ruler to draw straight lines to represent the wires.

2. Use the correct circuit symbols to represent different components.
3. Ensure that the circuit is closed and has no gaps.

Write down as many things as possible that is wrong with the circuit below?
The circuit is broken.
1. _______________________
The circuit should have been drawn with a pencil
2. _______________________
and ruler.

Proper circuit symbols should be used.

3.________________________
1. Draw a circuit with a battery, 2 lamps and a switch.

2. Draw a circuit with a cell and 1 lamp.

Are these sentences true or false?

1. Circuits will work if there is a gap in them (F)

2. The current is the same all over the circuit (T)
3. A voltmeter measures current (F)
4. Electrical conductors will not allow current to pass through (F)
5. All metals are good conductors of electricity (T)
6. The current in a circuit gets used up (F)
 Lesson 2 - Understanding energy in circuits
What is Potential Difference?
Potential difference is the energy that causes a current to flow around a circuit.

If there is no potential difference, then there can be no current flowing because there is no
energy.

The symbol for potential difference is V and the unit is Volts (V).

Potential difference is measured using a voltmeter.

Why is 1 bulb brighter than the other?

If there is a higher potential difference,
there will be more current flowing and
therefore more energy being transferred to
the components.

As you can see here, the light bulb is much

brighter when it is connected to the 9 V
battery, rather than the 6 V battery.

Fill in the gaps using the words below

Potential difference is Shared between the

components in a series circuit. The total Key words:
Equal
potential difference in the circuit is Equal
Shared
to the potential difference across the cell / Equally
battery. Providing the bulbs are the same,
the potential difference will be shared
equally between them.
 1.5V 1.5V 1.5V
0.75V 0.75V
3V 4V

4.5V

Look at the four circuits – rank them in order for the highest
potential difference.

2
4
1
cvv
3
 Match the number to the correct
letter.

Answers:
1–D
2–C
3–F
4–I
5–A
6–H
7–B
8–G
9-E
 Lesson 3 - Series Circuits
Match the circuit symbols to their definitions

In a series circuit, if
Series circuits a component breaks
or is disconnected,
the current cannot
flow and the circuit
stops working.

The current is the

same everywhere in
a series circuit.

This means each

component has the
same current.
The other bulb will not light up as the circuit is broken and therefore the
current cannot flow in the circuit.
V – Potential Difference (Volts)
I – Current (amps)
R – Resistance (ohms)

same
less
same
less

V=IxR
V = 0.2 x 8
V = 1.6V

3.0V – 1.6V = 1.4V

 Lesson 4 - Parallel circuits

Potential Current splits for

difference is the each branch and is
same in every therefore shared by
branch. each component.
 wire cell bulb

series

Parallel

When a second bulb is added the brightness decreases

because less current can flow through them.

When a second bulb is added the brightness stays the

same because the current is shared through each
branch.
 An example of a circuit that is needed for safety eg. Lawmower,

Lighting circuit at home

If there is a break in the circuit or if a component fails, the remainder

of the circuit will be unaffected.

Ammeter
Current

Tom
1.5

The bulbs would brighten.

The reading on the ammeter would increase.

Lesson 5 - Resistance
 3 3A
27
31 2.4A
33
33
32 8 ohms

Task 2 – Draw a graph of current vs voltage (from the table above).

Turn over for graph paper.

Don’t forget….

• Use a pencil and ruler

• Plan your graph before you begin to draw it
• Label your axis (including a unit)
• Draw a line of best fit
Lesson 6 - Static Electricity
Current flows through a material whereas static doesn’t flow so it
stays in one place.

Any electrical conductor (metals etc.)

A material which doesn’t conduct electricity (an electrical insulator).

When a charge builds up on an object, if an electrical conductor

comes close the object the charge may jump across as a spark.
 T
F
T
F

The charge leaks away through the wall or air; no

force of attraction remains

Static charge is more likely to be generated between shoes and

carpet than between shoes and wood.
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________