UNIT 20 – ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS
GRADE 4
LET'S FIND OUT TOGETHER:
Where can we find electric
circuits?
What are the parts of an
electric circuit?
What are electrical
conductors and insulators?
ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS ARE FOUND IN ALL ELECTRICAL
EQUIPMENT, SUCH AS OUR COMPUTERS.
This part of the computer shows us the
electrical circuit that it is made up of.
How does an electric circuit work?
An electric circuit consists of components
connected together to form a path through
which electric current flows.
An electricity source, such as battery, is
necessary for this circuit to work.
What flows through an electric circuit?
Electric current.
ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS
Electrical circuits are found in all
electrical appliances.
Electrical appliance is a piece of
equipment that works when
electricity flows through its
electrical circuits.
ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS
Simple electrical circuits can be
found in an electrical appliance
such as a torch.
Each part of an electrical circuit
has a different function.
Electrical circuits are made up of
battery, switch, wires, and bulb.
When they properly connected,
they will produce an electrical
current.
BATTERY
A battery is the source of energy in an
electrical circuit.
When the positive and negative terminals
of the battery are connected properly to
the other parts of the electrical circuit,
an electrical current will flow through
the electrical circuit.
SWITCH
A switch controls when an electric
current can flow in an electric circuit.
The electric current flows if the switch is
on and stops if the switch is off.
WIRES
Electrical wires are made of thin strips of
metal.
Most wires are made of copper.
BULB
A bulb produces light and heat.
In order for the bulb to light up, it has to
be properly connected in a circuit.
PARTS OF LIGHT BULB
A bulb is made up of a metal
filament, glass case, and metal
glass case casing and tip.
metal filament The metal filament is usually made of
a metal called tungsten. When an
electric current flows through the
metal filament, it glows and gives off
metal casing light and heat.
The glass case covers the metal
filament to prevent it from being
tip damaged.
Metal casing and tip, this part
connects the bulb to an electrical
circuit.
OPEN AND CLOSED ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS
Electrical circuits can be open
and closed.
An electric current will only
flow if the parts in an electrical
circuit form a complete path
with no gaps.
A closed circuit is the one
through which an electric
current can flow.
An open circuit is the one
through which an electric
current cannot flow.
CONDUCTOR AND INSULATOR
Electrical current can
flow through electrical
conductors, but cannot
flow through electrical
insulators.
gold aluminum iron
The examples of
electric conductors are
gold, aluminum, and
iron. Wires are usually
made of metal.
The examples of
porcelain glass cloth wood plastic electrical insulators are
porcelain, glass, cloth,
wood, and plastic.
SELF-CHECK.
1. All electrical appliances have electric circuits.
2. The flow of electricity in an electric circuit is called an electric
current.
3. Electrical appliances can work when an electric current flows
through the circuit.
4. A simple electric circuit is made up of a battery, switch,
wires, and bulb.
SELF-CHECK.
5. The battery is the source of electricity in a circuit.
6. The switch controls when the electric current flows in a circuit.
7. The parts of an electric circuit are connected by wires.
8. The bulb produces light when an electric current flows through it.
9. An electric current can only flow through a closed circuit. It cannot flow through an
open circuit.
[Link] conductors are materials that allow an electric current to flow through
them.
[Link] insulators are materials that do not allow an electric current to flow
through them.
DO YOU THINK THE BULB
IN THIS CIRCUIT WILL
LIGHT UP?
Yes
Because the wires are
connected properly to the
metal casing and tip.
Also, the positive and negative
terminals of the battery are
connected properly
WHAT IS PLASTIC USED FOR IN TERMS OF ELECTRICITY?
Plastic is used as an
insulator on cooking
utensils.
WHAT DOES RUBBER DO
FOR ELECTRICAL WIRES?
Rubber covers
metal wires to
insulate them.
WHAT CONDUCTOR OF ELECTRICITY THAT CAN BE FOUND IN
JEWELRY?
SILVER
IN THE DIAGRAM, WHY MIGHT THE BULB NOT LIGHT UP EVEN
THOUGH THE SWITCH IS CLOSED?
One possible reason is that the bulb has
fused.
It means that the filament inside the bulb has
burned out or broken.
Another possibility is that the battery is
flat.
A flat battery does not provide enough
electrical energy to power the bulb, causing it
not to light up.
WHAT CONDITION
IS NECESSARY FOR
THE BULB TO LIGHT
UP IN THIS CIRCUIT?
SWITCHES A AND B MUST
BE CLOSED.
