-
Introduction
View the activity introduction for more information on the topic
-
Read aloud
Read the question aloud
-
Accessibility
Open the accessibility toolbar to change fonts and contrast, choose a different language, use a ruler and more
Electricity can be very dangerous if not used properly. At home, mains electricity is used, which has a much higher voltage than the cells used at school. It can be extremely dangerous.
The general safety rules when handling electricity are:
- Never touch the metal parts of plugs (see a plug inserted into a socket in the diagram)
- Never poke things into sockets
- Keep water away from electrical appliances (water is a conductor of electricity).
In science lessons:
- Always show your circuits to your teacher before switching them on
- Switch the current off before changing your circuit.
Electricity can be controlled by using a switch. When the switch is open, there is a gap in the circuit, so electric current cannot flow. When we close the switch there is a complete circuit for the current to flow around. The diagram shows a complete circuit with an open and then a closed switch. In science, we call the battery a cell, but actually a battery consists of many cells in a row.
All wires are metal because metals conduct electricity, but they are covered in plastic to insulate us from the electricity and so avoid accidents. Have a look at the wires this plug contains:
You can see the multi-coloured wires for Earth (yellow/green), Live (brown) and Neutral (blue). As almost all appliances come with a fitted and sealed plug, it's not as vital to learn how to wire a plug as it once was.
Question
/ 10Mrs Davila
Do you want to skip questions and finish?
Hold up, it looks like there may be an issue with your spelling. Why not try it again?
You need to check your answer before you proceed. Are you sure you want to skip?
Teacher explanation