Lesson 1 – Static Electricity Lesson 9 – The Solar System

Explain what causes static electricity. Describe what happens when two charged
When you rub two insulating materials objects meet.
together some charge may be transferred If the charges are the same (two positively
from one object to the other to make the charged, or two negatively charged, objects)
two objects oppositely charged. they will repel each other.
If the charges are different (one positive, one
negative) they will attract each other.
Lesson2 - Switches
How is current measured?
What is an electric current? We measure current using an
An electric current is the flow of charge around a circuit. The ammeter. The units for current are
current carries energy to bulbs or other components. amperes (A). It does not matter where
the ammeter goes in the circuit
because current is not used up as it
goes around the circuit.
Draw the circuit symbols Draw the circuit symbols How do bulbs work?
for the following for the following Bulbs light up because the electricity
components. components. flowing through them makes the
filament glow.
State what conditions are needed
for current to flow.
An electric current only flows
when there is a complete circuit
for the current. A circuit also needs
something to ‘push’ the current
around the circuit, such as a cell or
power pack.
Lesson 3 - Series and Parallel Circuits
Draw a table to compare how series and parallel circuits behave What is a series circuit?
Series Circuits Parallel Circuits A circuit with all components
in one loop
7P2
Lesson 4 Measuring Current
Describe what current is and how it is measured?
The current in a circuit is formed by the flow of
charge around the circuit. In metal wires the charge
is composed of electrons
We measure current using an ammeter
An ammeter must be connected in series with the
components you are measuring the current through
What happen to current if you add more cells?
Adding more cells increases the push of the
electricity so more current flows
Lessons 6 & 7 Resistance
What affects the size of the current in a circuit?
The size of the current in a circuit depends on the voltage of the power source, and on the components in
the circuit. The higher the voltage of the cells in a circuit, the more charges it can push around. This means
that increasing the voltage of the power source increases the current.
What is resistance?
A way of saying how difficult it is for electricity to flow through
something. Components that make it more difficult for a
current to flow around a circuit have a high resistance.
Resistance is measured in ohms (Ω).
What is a Solar System?
A star with planets and other objects orbiting
it.
Lesson 5 Measuring Voltage
Describe what voltage is and how it is measured
The voltage provided by a cell or power pack helps
to push the charges around the circuit. The units for
voltage are volts (V).
How have our ideas about the Solar System
We measure voltage using a voltmeter changed?
Until about 500 years ago most people
believed that the Earth was at the centre of
everything. We now use a model of the Solar
System in which the Sun is at the centre, with
the Earth and other planets moving around it
A voltmeter must be connected in parallel with the on paths called orbits. The planets are also all
component we want to measure the voltage across spinning, and many have moons orbiting
them.
What happen to voltage if you add more
cells?
Adding more cells to a circuit would increase
the voltage. Each cell typically has a voltage of
1.5V so two cells would give 3V and so on.
Lesson 10 – Day and Night
What is a day? Explain why we have day and night. What is a year?
A day is how long it takes Only half the Earth faces the Sun at a A year is how long it takes for
for the Earth to spin once time. That half has daylight while the the Earth to travel once
on its axis (24 hours). other half facing away from the Sun gets around the Sun. A year (on
What are conductors? no sunlight and so it is night-time there. Earth) is 365 days.
Metals are conductors because the
charges can move around easily inside
them. They have very low resistances.
Define the term ‘insulator’ and give
some examples.
Insulating materials have very high
resistances. Charges do not move
around easily inside them. Most non-
metals are insulators.
What are resistors and what can we
use them for?
A resistor has a high resistance and
makes it harder for electricity to flow.
This makes the current smaller.

Lesson 8-Electrical Safety

The current is the same
everywhere in the circuit
All the bulbs go off when the
switch is opened
If you add more bulbs in series,
the current in the circuit is
reduced and the bulbs are
dimmer
The current from the cell splits up
when it comes to a junction
Each bulb can be controlled
individually
If you add more bulbs in parallel,
the bulbs all stay at the original
brightness. The current through
each bulb stays the same
What is a parallel circuit
A circuit with components in
multiple loops. Each loop
can have more than one
component in it
Describe how electricity can cause harm.
Electricity flowing through a wire can cause the wire
to heat up. This is useful in electric heaters and
cookers, but if other components become too hot,
they may cause fires. Electricity can also be harmful
if it flows through the body.
Explain how a fuse works.
Plugs on appliances are fitted with a fuse, which is
designed to melt and break the circuit if the current
is higher than it should be. Fuses have different
ratings depending on how much current they are
designed to carry without melting.
State 5 ways in which the risk from electricity can
be reduced.
 Never touch the bare metal parts of plugs.
 Never poke objects into sockets.
 Keep electricity away from water, and don’t
use switches with wet hands.
 Do not plug too many things into one socket.
 Never use something that has a damaged
wire.

Fuses rated for 5 A, 10 A, and 13 A are available,

state which one you would use for an appliance
that requires 5.5 A of current.
You would need to use the 10 A fuse, as 5.5 A of
current that the appliance needs would cause a 5 A
fuse to melt and break the circuit.
Lesson 11 – Seasons
Explain why it is summer in Explain why we have seasons.
Australia when it is winter in The Earth’s axis is tilted and so some parts of the Earth receive more
the UK. sunlight each day than others. As the Earth travels around the Sun,
When it is winter in the UK the the parts tilted towards the Sun changes throughout the year.
Northern hemisphere is tilted away
from the Sun, so the Southern
hemisphere is titled towards the
Sun and it is summer there.
Describe how the length of
daylight changes in summer
and winter.
In summer, the Sun is high in the sky
at midday and days are longer than
nights. In the winter, the Sun is not
very high in the sky at midday and
nights are longer than days.
Explain why it is hotter in the
summer.
The Earth is not closer to the Sun in
the summer. It is hotter because the
Sun is higher in the sky, and so its
heat is more concentrated, and
because the days are longer.
What is an equinox?
The date (twice each year) at which the sun is directly above the Earth’s equator.
Day and night are of approximately equal length (12 hours)
Spring (Vernal) equinox – 21st March. Autumn equinox – 23rd September
Lesson 12 -Gravity in Space
How is weight calculated?
Weight (N) = mass x g
W Gravity is a force that pulls all objects together.
gxm
Define the term ‘weight’.
The amount of force with which gravity pulls things.
It is measured in newtons (N). Your weight would
change if you went into space or to another planet.
Why does the Earth orbit the Sun?
The force of gravity between the Sun and the Earth
keeps the Earth in its orbit.
Explain how Earth’s gravity attracts objects.
The Earth has a very large mass and so has a strong
gravitational field that pulls everything down to the
ground. Different planets in the Solar System have
different strengths of gravitational fields.
What is gravity?
The greater the mass of an object, the more
gravity it has. The Earth is very big and so has
strong gravity that pulls everything down towards
it.
Lesson 13 – Beyond the Solar System
What is a star? Describe what a galaxy is.
Stars are huge balls of gas that give out large amounts Galaxies are large groups of stars. The Sun is in a
of energy. The Sun is a star. The stars you see at night galaxy called the Milky Way. There are millions of
do not seem very bright compared with the Sun other galaxies, and each of these galaxies contain
because they are much further away. We cannot see
millions of stars. All these galaxies make the Universe.
stars during the day because light from them is very
faint compared with light from the Sun.
How close is the nearest star to the Sun? Why is it important to study space?
Stars are very far apart. We measure these distances Human space exploration helps us to answer questions
in light years. One light year is the distance travelled about our place in the Universe and the history of our
by light in 1 year. The nearest star to the Sun is called solar system. By building the spaceships for space
Proxima Centauri. It is 4.22 light years away. It would
exploration we expand technology, create new
take a rocket from Earth over 12,000 years to reach
Proxima Centauri. industries, and help to foster a peaceful connection
with other nations.
Key Vocabulary Definitions
Abstract model A model that only exists in your thoughts, or as a computer program. Moon A natural satellite of a planet. The Moon (with a capital ‘M’) is the moon that
orbits the Earth.
Ammeter A piece of equipment that measures how much electricity is flowing around a circuit. Neutral pin The metal pin in a plug that the neutral wire is connected to.
Ampere/Amp (A) The unit for measuring current. Neutral wire The blue wire in a cable or plug.
Analogy Comparing something complicated to something that is easier to understand. Northern Hemisphere The half of the Earth with the North pole in it
Attract Two things pulling towards each other are said to do this. Ohm (Ω) The unit for measuring resistance.
Axis An imaginary line through the centre of a planet between the South and North poles about Orbit The path that one body in space takes around another.
which the planet rotates.
Battery Two or more cells used together. Parallel circuit A circuit with two or more branches that split apart and join up again.
Cable grip Part of a plug that holds the cable, and stops the wires being pulled out of the pins. Physical model A model that you can touch, or a model that you could build.
Cable The wire for something that runs off mains electricity. It has three separate wires inside it. Planet A large body in space that orbits a star.
Cell A source of electricity with a low ‘energy’ (low voltage). Cells push charges around a circuit. Potential Difference A way of saying how much energy is transferred by electricity, often simply called
voltage
Charges Tiny particles that flow around a circuit. Power pack A source of electricity with a low voltage, that is safe to use in schools.
Circuit breaker A safety device that switches off the electricity supply if the current is too big. Resistance Opposition to flow of electric current
Component Something in a circuit, such as a bulb, switch or motor. Resistor A component that makes it difficult for electricity to flow – resistors are used to
reduce the size of the current in a circuit.
Conductor A material that allows something to pass through it (e.g. heat, electricity). Ring main A type of parallel circuit used in house wiring.
Current The flow of electricity around a circuit. Risk How likely it is that a particular hazard will cause a danger.
Earth pin The metal pin in a plug that the earth wire is connected to. Series circuit A circuit in which there is only one loop of wire.
Earth wire The green and yellow wire in a cable or plug. It is there for safety. Solar System A star and all the planets and other objects orbiting it
Electric field The space around an object with a charge of static electricity where it can affect other Southern Hemisphere The half of the Earth with the South pole in it
objects.
Equator An imaginary line around the middle of the Earth. Star A huge ball of gas that gives out energy. We see some of the energy as light.
Filament The thin piece of wire inside a light bulb that glows when the bulb is on. Static Something that is not moving.
Fuse rating The largest current a fuse can conduct without melting. Tropic of Cancer An imaginary circle around the Earth in the northern hemisphere. It is where the
Sun is overhead in the June solstice (Summer in the Northern Hemisphere)
Fuse A piece of wire (usually in a cartridge) that melts if too much electricity flows through it. Tropic of Capricorn An imaginary circle around the Earth in the northern hemisphere. It is where the
Sun is overhead in the December solstice (Winter in the Northern Hemisphere)
Galaxy Millions of stars grouped together. Universe All the galaxies and the space between them.
Hazard Something that could cause harm. Variable resistor A resistor whose resistance can be changed.
Hemisphere a half of the earth, usually as divided into northern and southern halves by the equator, or Volt (V) The unit for measuring potential difference (voltage)
into western and eastern halves by an imaginary line passing through the North and South
poles.
Insulator A material that does not allow something to pass through it (e.g. heat, electricity). Voltage A way of saying how much energy is transferred by electricity.
Light year One light year is the distance that light travels in one year. Voltmeter A piece of equipment that measures how much energy is being transferred by a
current.
Live pin The metal pin in a plug that the live wire is connected to.
Live wire The brown wire in a cable or plug.
Mass The amount of matter something is made from. It is measured in grams and kilograms. Your
mass does not change if you go into space or to another planet.
Model A way of showing or representing something that helps you to think about it or to find out
about it.