Investigating voltage: do and review
I can investigate and explain how voltage affects the brightness of a bulb in a circuit.
Investigating voltage: do and review
I can investigate and explain how voltage affects the brightness of a bulb in a circuit.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Equipment such as a light sensor and data logger can be used to measure and record bulb brightness in lux.
- Changing the voltage of batteries can affect the brightness of a bulb in a simple circuit.
- A lower voltage leads to a dimmer bulb and a higher voltage leads to a brighter bulb.
- A higher voltage can cause the bulb to burn out or blow due to excess heat generated.
- The results of an investigation can be recorded in a table and presented using verbal and written forms.
Keywords
Voltage - Voltage is a measure of the size of the push provided by a cell or other source of electricity.
Brightness - The brightness of a bulb is the amount of light it gives out.
Affect - To affect something or someone is to change it or how it behaves.
Cell - A cell is a single unit that is needed for electricity to flow around a circuit.
Lux - Lux is the unit used to measure the brightness of a bulb or light.
Common misconception
The voltage of a cell is proportional to the size of the cell. Voltage is a tangible substance rather than a measure of electrical “push”.
Teaching slides and CfUs will clarify that voltage is a measure of the size of the push provided by a cell or other source of electricity and that cell size is not proportional to voltage.
To help you plan your year 6 science lesson on: Investigating voltage: do and review, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 6 science lesson on: Investigating voltage: do and review, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 science lessons from the Changing circuits unit, dive into the full secondary science curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
Equipment to investigate the effect of voltage on the brightness of bulbs: bulbs, wires, cells, light sensor and data logger or app on mobile phone or tablet to measure light.
Content guidance
- Risk assessment required - equipment
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
Exit quiz
6 Questions
