Electrical Component
Contents
Key Stage 2
Meaning
A component is a part of an electrical circuit.
About Components
- Components in a circuit are used to do different jobs.
- The components you should know are:
Examples
| Electrical Cell | Wires | Filament Bulb |
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| A cell makes the electricity flow in a circuit. | Wires are the path for electricity to flow. | A filament bulb lights up when electricity flows through it. |
| Switch | Buzzer | Motor |
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| A switch can complete or break a circuit to turn it on and off. | A buzzer makes a sound when electricity flows through it. | A motor spins when electricity flows through it. |
Key Stage 3
Meaning
A component is a part of an electrical circuit.
About Components
- Components in a circuit are used to do different jobs.
- The components you should know are:
Examples
| Electrical Cell | Wires | Filament Bulb |
| |
|
|
| |
|
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| A cell makes the electricity flow in a circuit. | Wires are the path for electricity to flow. | A filament bulb lights up when electricity flows through it. |
| Switch | Buzzer | Motor |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| A switch can complete or break a circuit to turn it on and off. | A buzzer makes a sound when electricity flows through it. | A motor spins when electricity flows through it. |
| Resistor | Voltmeter | Ammeter |
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| A resistor reduces the flow of current through a circuit. | A Voltmeter is used to measure the Potential Difference between two points on a circuit. | An Ammeter is used to measure the Current passing through part of a circuit. |
Key Stage 4
Meaning
A component is a part of an electrical circuit.
About Components
- Components in a circuit are used to do different jobs.
- The components you should know are:
- Electrical Cell
- Battery
- Variable Power Supply
- Alternating Current Supply
- Wires
- Electrical Bulb
- Switch
- Buzzer
- Motor
- Resistor
- Voltmeter
- Ammeter
- Variable Resistor
- Light Dependent Resistor
- Thermistor
- Diode
- Light Emitting Diode
- Electrical Fuse
Examples
| Electrical Cell | Battery | Variable Power Supply |
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| A cell makes the electricity flow in a circuit. | A battery is several cells connected together. | A variable power supply is a source of electricity with a potential difference which can be changed. |
| Alternating Current Supply | Wires | Filament Bulb |
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| An alternating current supply is a source of electricity with an alternating current. | Wires are the path for electricity to flow. | A filament bulb lights up when electricity flows through it. |
| Switch | Buzzer | Motor |
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|
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| A switch can complete or break a circuit to turn it on and off. | A buzzer makes a sound when electricity flows through it. | A motor spins when electricity flows through it. |
| Resistor | Voltmeter | Ammeter |
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|
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| A resistor reduces the flow of current through a circuit. | A Voltmeter is used to measure the Potential Difference between two points on a circuit. | An Ammeter is used to measure the Current passing through part of a circuit. |
| Variable Resistor | Light Dependent Resistor | Thermistor |
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| A variable resistor can change resistance controlling the current flowing through a circuit. | A light dependent resistor (LDR) changes resistance depending on light intensity, the lower the intensity the greater the resistance. | A thermistor changes resistance depending on the temperature. |
| Diode | Light Emitting Diode | Fuse |
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| A diode only allows current through in one direction. | A light emitting diode (LED) only allows current through in one direction and produces light when a current passes through it. | A fuse is a thin piece of wire that will melt if too much current passes through it. |