Student Exploration Circuit Builder Build and Test
This activity guides students through a circuit simulation, prompting exploration of key concepts like current, open/closed circuits, and components. Students make predictions and observations to build foundational understanding of electricity.
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Name: Bruhath! Sivalenka Date: 1Q/10/2020
Student Exploration Circuit Builder
Directions: Follow the instructions to go through the simulation. Respond to the questions and
prompts in the orange boxes.
Vocabulary: circuit, closed circuit, conductor, current, electron, fuse, insulator, open circuit, parallel circuit,
series circuit, short circuit
Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE using the Gizmo.)
1. What do a light bulb, a toaster, a radio, and a computer all have in common?
They are required to electrically function
2. Suppose you connect a battery to a small light bulb with a single wire. What do you think will happen?
Explain your answer.
The lightbulb would not light up because it has to have two wires to connect from both
sides of the battery.
Gizmo Warm-up: Build a circuit
1. Using the Standard components in the upper left of the Gizmo, try to get a light
bulb to light up. You can drag as many bulbs, wires, batteries, switches and fuses
as you like onto the circuit board.
A circuit is a path containing easily moveable charges. When the light bulb lights
up, negatively-charged particles called electrons are flawing through the wire and
bulb. This flow is called current.
Battery
Now try to light the bulb with the
smallest number of components.
3. Based on what you have seen, what must be true for a circuit to light a bulb?
Name: Bruhath! Sivalenka Date: 1Q/10/2020
Student Exploration Circuit Builder
Directions: Follow the instructions to go through the simulation. Respond to the questions and
prompts in the orange boxes.
Vocabulary: circuit, closed circuit, conductor, current, electron, fuse, insulator, open circuit, parallel circuit,
series circuit, short circuit
Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE using the Gizmo.)
1. What do a light bulb, a toaster, a radio, and a computer all have in common?
They are required to electrically function
2. Suppose you connect a battery to a small light bulb with a single wire. What do you think will happen?
Explain your answer.
The lightbulb would not light up because it has to have two wires to connect from both
sides of the battery.
Gizmo Warm-up: Build a circuit
1. Using the Standard components in the upper left of the Gizmo, try to get a light
bulb to light up. You can drag as many bulbs, wires, batteries, switches and fuses
as you like onto the circuit board.
A circuit is a path containing easily moveable charges. When the light bulb lights
up, negatively-charged particles called electrons are flawing through the wire and
bulb. This flow is called current.
Battery
Now try to light the bulb with the
smallest number of components.
3. Based on what you have seen, what must be true for a circuit to light a bulb?
A battery or a source of electrons and conductive wiring to transfer, tfrie electrons are needed for a
circuit to light a bulb.
Activity A:
Closing a circuit
Get the Gizmo ready:
• Click Clear.
• Turn on Show current and select
Electron flow.
• Set up components as shown to the right.
'l1
• * 1
Introduction: You should have just built an open circuit (shown above). The gap on the left prevents the flow
of charges. There are no gaps in a closed circuit so charges can flow.
Question: What materials will close a circuit?
1. Predict: Conductors are materials with easily movable charges, allowing current to occur. Insulators do
not have easily movable charges, so current is not produced. Look at the nine Materials at lower left.
Which do you think are conductions? Same question on the bottom did it there
Which are insulators? same question on the bottom i did it there
A. Predicted conductors: Iron, silver, brass, copper, pencil lead
B. Predicted insulators: Wood, plastic, yam,glass
C. How could you use your open circuit to test if a material is a conductor or insulator?
Once the material is connected to the open circuit, it should either light the bulb or have
no effect at all. if the bulb is lit. the material is conductive. On the other hand the
material is an insulator, if it doesn't light up the bulb.
2. Experiment: Drag each material into the gap of the open circuit. If the light bulb lights, the material is a
conductor. If not, the material is an insulator. Keep track of your findings below.
Conductors Insulators
Silver Plastic
Iron Yam
Pencil Lead Glass
Copper Wood
Brass
3. Analyze: Look at your list of conductors.
A. What kind of material are most conductors?
circuit to light a bulb.
Activity A:
Closing a circuit
Get the Gizmo ready:
• Click Clear.
• Turn on Show current and select
Electron flow.
• Set up components as shown to the right.
'l1
• * 1
Introduction: You should have just built an open circuit (shown above). The gap on the left prevents the flow
of charges. There are no gaps in a closed circuit so charges can flow.
Question: What materials will close a circuit?
1. Predict: Conductors are materials with easily movable charges, allowing current to occur. Insulators do
not have easily movable charges, so current is not produced. Look at the nine Materials at lower left.
Which do you think are conductions? Same question on the bottom did it there
Which are insulators? same question on the bottom i did it there
A. Predicted conductors: Iron, silver, brass, copper, pencil lead
B. Predicted insulators: Wood, plastic, yam,glass
C. How could you use your open circuit to test if a material is a conductor or insulator?
Once the material is connected to the open circuit, it should either light the bulb or have
no effect at all. if the bulb is lit. the material is conductive. On the other hand the
material is an insulator, if it doesn't light up the bulb.
2. Experiment: Drag each material into the gap of the open circuit. If the light bulb lights, the material is a
conductor. If not, the material is an insulator. Keep track of your findings below.
Conductors Insulators
Silver Plastic
Iron Yam
Pencil Lead Glass
Copper Wood
Brass
3. Analyze: Look at your list of conductors.
A. What kind of material are most conductors?
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