Bright lights

Bright lights

Pencil and paper
Overview
Using this Resource
Connecting to the Curriculum
Marking Student Responses
Working with Students
Further Resources
This task is about how the layout of an electric circuit affects the bulb.
Circuit A
electric circuit diagram

 
How do each of the bulbs (numbered 1 to 7) in the circuits below glow compared to the bulb in Circuit A? Use the words: brighter, same as, dimmer, or not going.
 

 
1: ________________ 2: ________________
3: ________________
 
4: ________________
 
 

 
5: ________________ 6: ________________ 7: ________________
Task administration: 
This task can be completed with pencil and paper.
Level:
5
Curriculum info: 
Science, Knowledge, Physical World
Keywords: 
physics concepts, electricity, circuits, circuit diagrams, symbols
Description of task: 
Students are given six different circuit diagrams. They state how brightly these bulbs will glow when compared to another circuit.
Curriculum Links: 
Science capabilities
The capabilities focus is brought about by the conversations you have and the questions you ask.
Capability: Interpret representations
This resource provides opportunities to discuss circuit diagrams use a particular agreed code for the different elements.
Science capabilities: 
Interpret representations
Answers/responses: 
 

Y10 (10/2001)
1: dimmer easy
2: same as moderate
3: dimmer
4: dimmer		 moderate
easy
5: brighter easy
6: dimmer very difficult
7: not going difficult

NOTE: Many students did not recognise that the batteries were in parallel in circuit e) and the effect of this.

Diagnostic and formative information: 
Common errors
a) 21% of students answered 'same as'.
b) 47% of students answered 'dimmer'.
c) 25% of students answered 'same as'.
e) 46% of students answered 'brighter'.
27% of students answered 'same as'.
20% of students answered 'not going'.
f) 44% of students answered 'same as'.