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066-67_SME_SD216.qxd

Background knowledge
Can you see the light?
25/2/06 9:11
9:13 AM Page 66 (Cyan
(Black plate)
plate)

A bulb will only light up if it is part of an electric circuit. A circuit is a

complete path around which electricity can flow. It must include a source of

✩electricity, such as a battery. To make a circuit, the bulb is connected to the

Can you see the light?
battery by wires. Electricity flows out of the battery, around the circuit, and
back into the battery. Electricity always leaves the negative end of a battery
Background
and returns to itsknowledge
positive end. The bulb will light up when electricity flows
A bulb it.
through will only light up if it is part of an electric circuit. A circuit is a
complete path around which electricity can flow. It must include a source of
electricity,
Science such as a battery. To make a circuit, the bulb is connected to the
activity
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Nina made byawires. Electricity
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and returns to its positive end. The bulb will light up when electricity flows
through it.

Science activity
Nina made a bulb light up by connecting these parts together to make an
electric circuit. Draw the circuit she made on a separate piece of paper.
Wire
Alligator clip

Battery

Wire
Alligator clip
Bulb
Battery

Bulb
holder

Science investigation Bulb

Obtain
Take a 6care
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ask an adult bulbs, and
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a 6 volt cliptwo
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What to website
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the brightness
fun with
of the circuits.
light? Science investigation
Obtain a 6 volt battery, two small bulbs, and at
least three alligator clip wires. Build66 a circuit first
with one bulb, then with two. What happens to the
brightness of©the light?
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Limited [2010]
fun with circuits.
66 ✩ Can you see the light?
Background knowledge
6
A bulb will only light up if it is part of an electric circuit. A circuit is a
complete path around which electricity can flow. It must include a source of
electricity, such as a battery. To make a circuit, the bulb is connected to the
battery by wires. Electricity flows out of the battery, around the circuit, and
back into the battery. Electricity always leaves the negative end of a battery
and returns to its positive end. The bulb will light up when electricity flows
through it.

Science activity
Nina made a bulb light up by connecting these parts together to make an
electric circuit. Draw the circuit she made on a separate piece of paper.

Wire
Alligator clip

Battery

Bulb

Bulb
holder

Science investigation
A complete circuit is needed before a bulb will
light. Adding a second bulb to a three-wire circuit
will make the bulbs dimmer (series circuit). If each
bulb has its own pathway to the source of electricity
(parallel circuit), the bulbs will all burn bright.

A complete circuit is needed before a bulb will light.

Adding a second© bulb to a three-wire
Dorling Kindersley Limited [2010] circuit will make
the bulbs dimmer (series circuit). If each bulb has its