Electric current
I can describe the flow of electric current from one end of a battery, through a circuit and back to the other end of the battery.
Electric current
I can describe the flow of electric current from one end of a battery, through a circuit and back to the other end of the battery.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- One end of a battery has a positive charge and one end has a negative charge, because of chemical reactions inside it.
- A battery pushes electric charge (electrons) one way round a complete circuit.
- There are electric charges in all atoms of the wires and components in a circuit, even when it is not turned on.
- When a circuit is turned on, electrons everywhere in the circuit start moving at the same time.
- Individual electrons move round a circuit slowly, at a speed of just a few millimetres each second.
Keywords
Battery - A battery is a component that uses a chemical reaction to make electric charge flow round a circuit.
Charge - Things can have an electrical charge that is positive or negative. If there is no charge, they are neutral.
Electron - Electrons are the charges in conductors that flow to give an electric current.
Electric current - Electric current is the flow of electric charge in a circuit.
Common misconception
Many pupils imagine electric current to emerge from a battery or a power supply and to move round a circuit in a sequential way. This leads to a consumption model of electricity.
Give pupils opportunities to test different incorrect models (e.g. the unipolar and clashing current models as well as the consumption model).
To help you plan your year 8 science lesson on: Electric current, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 8 science lesson on: Electric current, 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.
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The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
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Explore more key stage 3 science lessons from the Series circuits unit, dive into the full secondary science curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
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Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
