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Flick The Switch

Learn how electrical switches work in your home, school, or place of work.

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Secure Energy Future
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© © All Rights Reserved
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155 views

Flick The Switch

Learn how electrical switches work in your home, school, or place of work.

Uploaded by

Secure Energy Future
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Background knowledge

Flick the switch ✩


When you turn on the light in your room, you are using an electrical switch.
A switch turns a circuit on and off. The switch closes a gap, which completes
a circuit so that electricity can flow through it. When the switch is opened,
the gap returns and electricity stops flowing. A switch can be placed
anywhere on a circuit.
Push here
Science activity Metal
On the right is a simple switch. To make strip
it work, push down on the metal strip
until it touches the connecting pin to
complete the circuit. Look at the circuit
diagram below. Is the bulb on or off on
each one? Circle the correct answer.
Connecting pin
Key to diagrams

Open switch Closed switch Bulb Battery Wire

On Off On Off On Off On Off

Science investigation
Take extra care - ask an adult to supervise you.
Build a circuit using a battery, bulb, and alligator clip
wires. Now design your own switch. You might use
balsa wood, metal tacks, and heavy-duty aluminum
foil. Test out your switch.

67

© Dorling Kindersley Limited [2010]


67
Background knowledge
Flick the switch ✩
When you turn on the light in your room, you are using an electrical switch.
A switch turns a circuit on and off. The switch closes a gap, which completes
a circuit so that electricity can flow through it. When the switch is opened,
the gap returns and electricity stops flowing. A switch can be placed
anywhere on a circuit.
Push here
Science activity Metal
On the right is a simple switch. To make strip
it work, push down on the metal strip
until it touches the connecting pin to
complete the circuit. Look at the circuit
diagram below. Is the bulb on or off on
each one? Circle the correct answer.
Connecting pin
Key to diagrams

Open switch Closed switch Bulb Battery Wire

On Off On Off On Off On Off

Science investigation
The child learns how switches are used to control
circuits. There are a variety of switch types, including
toggle, push, and knife switches. They all work by
closing or opening a gap in the circuit to turn it on or
off. The website reinforces these concepts.

The child learns how switches are used to control


circuits. There are a variety
© Dorling Kindersley of switch
Limited [2010] types, including
toggle, push, and knife switches. They all work by

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