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Electricity: Circuits and their Components

Cells are for experiments

A torch cell is small and safe for experiments. Mains electricity, the supply in wall sockets, is not.

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The idea

A wire joins the two ends of a cell, with nothing else on the loop. The cell can get hot.
Step 1 of 2
  1. A wire joins the two ends of a cell, with nothing else on the loop. The cell can get hot.
  2. A lamp is added to the same loop. Now the current goes through the lamp.

The rule

Use only cells for experiments. Keep your hands dry. Never use a damaged wire.

Safety rules for working with a torch cell
RuleWhy
Use only cells or batteriesMains electricity can be deadly
Put a lamp in every loopA wire across a cell can make it hot
Never use a mains lead with a torn coverThe cover is the insulator
Keep your hands dryOur body is a conductor
Keep cells away from flamesHeat can make a cell leak or burst

An adult stays with you every time.

Jump to lesson

This track

  1. 0 Start here
  2. 1 The loop has to be unbroken
  3. 2 A switch is a gap you can close
  4. 3 Some things let the loop through
  5. 4 A drawing everyone reads the same way
  6. 5 Two or more cells make a battery
  7. 6 One loop, one break, everything stops
  8. 7 Cells are for experiments
  9. 8 Checkpoint: loops, switches, parts and safety
  10. 9 An LED has a right way round
  11. 10 Two kinds of electricity
  12. 11 Why a lamp may stay dark
  13. 12 Checkpoint: LEDs, kinds of current and faults
  14. 13 The big picture
  15. 14 Track quiz

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