Electric Circuits — Answers
Answer sheet with model answers and success criteria for the 6th Grade energy, light, sound & electricity worksheet.
Success TutoringWorksheetsAnswer sheet6th Grade · Science · Energy, Light, Sound & ElectricityElectric Circuits — Answers
Part A: How circuits work
Read the passage. Then circle the best answer.
An electric circuit is a path that electricity flows around. A simple circuit can have a battery (the energy source), wires, a bulb and a switch.
Electricity can only flow if the circuit is complete — a closed loop with no gaps. If there is a gap anywhere, the circuit is broken and the bulb will not light.
A switch is a way of making or breaking a gap. When the switch is closed (on), the loop is complete. When it is open (off), there is a gap.
Conductors let electricity flow through them easily. Metals such as copper, iron and steel are good conductors. Insulators do not let electricity flow through them easily. Plastic, rubber, wood and glass are insulators.
- AThe wires are long.
- BElectricity can flow all the way around the loop.
- CThe battery is touching the bulb.
- DThe switch is open.
Answer: Electricity can flow all the way around the loop.
In a complete (closed) circuit there are no gaps, so electricity flows from the battery, through the bulb and back to the battery.
- Acopper
- Bplastic
- Crubber
- Dwood
Answer: copper
Metals such as copper are good conductors. That is why wires have copper inside.
- AThe bulb gets brighter.
- BThe battery charges.
- CIt makes a gap, so the circuit is broken and the bulb goes out.
- DElectricity flows faster.
Answer: It makes a gap, so the circuit is broken and the bulb goes out.
Opening the switch breaks the loop. With a gap in the circuit, electricity cannot flow.
- Ato make them heavier
- Bto make them conduct better
- Cto make them look colorful
- Dbecause plastic is an insulator and keeps us safe
Answer: because plastic is an insulator and keeps us safe
Plastic is an insulator: it does not let electricity pass through, so the covering stops electricity reaching our hands.
Part B: Parts and words
- battery
- wire
- bulb
- switch
- turns electrical energy into light
- opens or closes a gap in the circuit
- supplies the energy
- carries electricity around the circuit
Answer: battery → supplies the energy; wire → carries electricity around the circuit; bulb → turns electrical energy into light; switch → opens or closes a gap in the circuit
Answer: complete
Also accept: closed.
Answer: insulators
Part C: True or false?
Write True or False.
Answer: True
Steel is a metal, and metals conduct electricity.
Answer: False
Rubber is an insulator, so it would act like a gap.
Answer: False
Water can carry electricity. Always dry your hands before touching anything electrical.
Answer: True
Electricity from the wall is very powerful and can seriously hurt you.
Answer: False
The loose wire leaves a gap, so the circuit is not complete.
Part D: Working scientifically: conductor or insulator?
Only build circuits at school with a teacher, using small batteries. Never experiment with electricity from the wall.
In class, a group builds a circuit with a battery, a bulb and wires, leaving a small gap. They put different materials across the gap, one at a time, to see whether the bulb lights.
Answer: The material put in the gap.
Answer: The bulb lights up when the material is in the gap.
Answer: Any two of: the same battery, the same bulb, the same wires, the same size gap, connecting the materials the same way.
Model answer: The metal spoon and the aluminum foil will make the bulb light, because they are metals and metals are conductors. The plastic ruler, the wooden block and the rubber eraser will not, because they are insulators.
Success criteria:
- Predicts the spoon and foil conduct
- Predicts plastic, wood and rubber do not
- Explains using conductors (metals) and insulators
Marking tips
- Give credit for correct method even when the final answer slips — the working shows where the thinking went right.
- For open-ended tasks, use the success criteria as a checklist rather than looking for one "right" answer.
- Celebrate what went well first, then pick one thing to work on next.
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