What is a Circuit?
Science: Year 3 & 4 National Curriculum, topic 10.3.1
Circuits
A circuit is a loop of conducting material. Circuits are usually made of copper wire. There are a few things a circuit needs to allow electricity to flow around the circuit.
Power supply
- A circuit requires a power supply to move the electricity around the circuit.
- The power supply in a circuit is called a cell.
- A power supply is called a battery if it has more that one cell.
Cells
- The cells have both positive and negative ends.
- The positive and negative ends are called terminals.
Other parts of the circuit
- Other parts can be added to the circuit.
- Each part of a circuit is called a component.
Buzzers
- Components can be added to make the circuit do something.
- Buzzers are components that convert electrical energy into sound.
- Buzzers would be useful in the circuit that controls your doorbell.
Lamps
- Components can be added to make the circuit do something.
- Lamps are components that convert the electrical energy into light.
- Lamps would be useful in the circuit that controls the lights in your home.
Test yourself on What is a Circuit?
Which of these is true about circuits?