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Circuit Testing Worksheet

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Circuit Testing Worksheet

A small battery-powered circuit should light a bulb, but some tests have failed. Use the circuit clues and your science knowledge to diagnose faults and explain your evidence. Use only low-voltage cells; never test mains electricity. Word bank: current, complete, open, conductor, insulator.

Read the test evidence

Talia builds a circuit using one cell, wires, a switch and a bulb. She changes one thing at a time and records what happens.

Test

Change made

Observation

Closed the switch; all wire ends touched the metal terminals.

Bulb glowed.

Put a plastic strip between two wire ends.

Bulb went out.

Removed the plastic strip and left a small gap at one connection.

Bulb stayed out.

1.In test 1, what is the strongest evidence that the circuit was working? Choose one.

The bulb glowed, showing that electrical energy was transferred.
The wires were made of metal, so they must have warmed up.
The cell became smaller as current flowed.
The switch looked neat.

2.Use the test log to explain why the bulb went out in test 2. Include the word conductor or insulator.

3.In test 3, what fault is most likely? State one change Talia could make to test your idea.

4.Select the materials that are usually electrical conductors.

Copper wire and a metal terminal
Plastic coating and rubber
Wood and glass
Paper and plastic

Think like a circuit tester

A complete circuit has a continuous path from one battery terminal, through the components, and back to the other terminal. A switch opens or closes that path.

5.Use the word bank (current, complete, open) to fill the blank: When the switch is closed and the bulb lights, the circuit is .

6.Use the word bank (current, complete, open) to fill the blank: When there is a gap, the circuit is .

7.Use the word bank (current, complete, open) to fill the blank: Electric flows around a complete circuit.

8.A bulb does not light. Give two different possible faults and one safe test for each. Do not suggest touching bare wires to a power point.

9.The bulb in Talia’s circuit changes electrical energy mainly into which useful form, and what other form might also be produced?

10.True or false? If a circuit has a gap, current can still travel through the gap because the battery pushes it strongly.

TrueFalse

11.Plan a fair test to find out whether a material is a conductor. Name what you would change, what you would keep the same, and what observation would count as evidence.

12.Write two safety rules for testing simple circuits with cells.