Science 5

Quarter 3 – Module 4: Electric Circuit

This module will help you infer the conditions necessary to make a bulb light up. The module is divided
into three lessons, namely:

 Lesson 1 – Parts of a Simple DC Electric Circuit

 Lesson 2 – Open and Closed Circuit
 Lesson 3 - Electric Safety Measures

Directions: Identify the word/words being described in each statement. Choose the correct answers
from the box and write your answers in your Science notebook.

1. It is composed of interconnected electrical components, which allow electric current to flow in a

complete path.
2. It is produced when free electrons flow in a complete and closed electric unit.
3. It gives protection in case of a short circuit and overloading.
4. They are materials that do not allow electricity to flow through them.
5. They are materials which allow electric current to flow through them.
6. It supplies the power, may be a generator, a battery, or a solar cell.
7. It happens when exposed wires touch each other.
8. It is a kind of circuit that results when the knob is switched on and the metals are connected with each
other so electricity flows.
9. It is a kind of circuit that results when the knob is switched off, the metals are disconnected so
electricity does not flow.
10. It is a device that can break or connect an electric circuit.

Answer key:
Lesson 1 : Parts of a Simple DC Electric Circuit

Look around your house and observe what electricity does for you. Electricity is important to everyone.
Everybody benefits from it. Almost all homes use electricity. Using electricity lightens our load. It makes
work easier, faster and better, especially for busy persons. Doesn’t electricity power up your fan,
television, radio, flat iron and refrigerator? Imagine how uncomfortable life would be if these appliances
were taken away from you. How does electricity flow to your appliances?

List some objects in your home which use electricity. Write them in your Science notebook.

Discussion:

An Electric Circuit - is composed of interconnected electrical components. These components form a

complete path of an electric circuit. Simple electric circuit has three main parts: The sources are power
supply, the conductor, and the load.

Electric current does not flow in an open or incomplete circuit. A current does not flow from the dry cell
unless there is a path from one terminal to another.

Parts of an Electric Circuit

A complete electrical circuit has the following parts:

1. Power Source – the source of energy to move the electrons, maybe a dry cell, battery, generator, or a
solar cell.

2. Connector – the wire or other conductors that link all parts of the circuit and create a path where
current flows. Metals like silver, copper and aluminum wire are good conductors of electricity.

3. Load – a load is an output device that uses electricity such as a light bulb, appliances, computers and
gadgets.

4. Switch – controls the flow of electricity; can connect or disconnect the path of electric current.

Activity 1: “Name Me!”

Directions: Label the parts of a simple DC electric circuit shown in Figure 1 below. Write your answers in
your Science notebook.

Answer key:
Lesson 2: Open and Closed Circuit

1. How many appliances and gadgets do you have? List them.

2. How does electricity flow to your appliances and gadgets?

Directions: Unscramble the letters to find the message. Write your answers in your Science notebook.

L E C D O S 1. Status of a circuit that is complete and unbroken with flowing electric current
N U T R E R C 2. A flow of electrical charges
P E N O 3. Status of a circuit that has breaks or openings in which electric current cannot flow
R I T C I U C 4. The unbroken path along which an electric current flows
T H C I S W 5. Opens and closes the circuit

Answer key:

Discussion in Lesson 2:
Continuity of an Electric Circuit

1. Closed Circuit (Switch On) - A closed circuit makes the bulb light up because the path of electricity is
complete. Electric current flows through the connecting wires from the power source to the device (ex.
bulb) then back to the source again.

Figure 2 above shows an example of a closed circuit where the connection is not broken. In this
set up, both wires are attached to the bulb, a wire is attached to the positive end of the battery, while
the other part are connected to the negative end.

2. Open Circuit (Switch Off)- Electricity does not flow in this kind of circuit because there is a gap or no
complete path from one end of the circuit to the other end. If it is an open circuit, an electrical device
does not work. In the case of Figure 3 below, the bulb does not light up.

In summary, to turn on the lights, you must close the circuit by turning on the switch to connect the
wires and other parts of the circuit. On the other hand, to turn off the lights, you must open the circuit
by turning off the switch to disconnect them. Besides switches, other causes of gaps or breaks in a circuit
include drained, rusty, or wrong positions of batteries wherein similar terminals are connected, defective
devices, and busted bulbs.

How Short Circuit Occurs

Short circuits are a major type of electrical accident that can cause serious damage to your electrical
system. They occur when a low-resistance path not suited to carry electricity receives a high-volume
electrical current. In simpler terms, short circuits happen when hot wire touches a conductive object it is
not supposed to. An electric cord contains two wires. One wire carries current from the power source to
the load/ electrical devices. The other wire carries current back to the source. A damaged cord can cause
a short circuit. A short circuit occurs when electric current follows a shorter path than is intended. For
example, if the two bare wires in a damaged cord come into contact with each other, current flows
directly from one wire to the other as shown in Figure 4 below.

The current will bypass the load or device and take the shortest route. This may cause the wires to
overheat and can lead to damage in appliances, electrical shock, or even start a fire. And if you are not
taking any preventative measures against short circuits, you are only increasing the risk of these
situations happening.

Activity 1. “Describe Me!”

What you need: one piece 1.5 V AA battery small bulb with receptacle/ socket two (2) pieces 20 cm
copper wire

What to do: 1. Construct a simple electric circuit. 2. Connect the materials as shown in the diagram
below. Observe what happens. 3. This time, remove the switch connection. Again, observe what
happens.

Guide Questions: Directions: Based on your observations, answer the following questions in your Science
notebook.
1. What happened to the bulb after you connected the switch to the wires? Why?
2. How did you know that electricity flow in the circuit?
3. What happened to the bulb after you disconnected the switch to the wires? Why?

Lesson 3: Electrical Safety Measures

Electricity is very important in the world and in our daily living. It is safe to use but becomes dangerous
in careless hands. It may cause fire, damage and accidents. Misuse or mishandling of electrical circuits or
electrical connections can result to serious injuries and even death.

Electricity is very useful to us. However, when it is used carelessly, it can also be very dangerous.
Electricity can cause electric shock and burns. At worst, it can kill people. In this lesson, you will learn
ways to avoid electrical accidents at home.

What do you think happened to the person in the picture?

Using Electricity Safely

Electricity is certainly useful, but it can cause injuries if not used properly. Even with electrical safety
features, electricity is still dangerous. Contact with electric current can cause severe burns and even
death. Serious fires can break out if electrical wires or appliances overheat. A common cause of electric
hazards and fires is a short circuit.

Safety Rules in Using Electricity

Follow the safety rules below to reduce the risks of injury or fire from electricity:

1. Pull the plug, not the wire.

2. Never use wet outlets or those dipped into the water.
3. When you are not using your appliances, turn them off.
4. Never stick/ insert a metal or any object into an electric outlet.
5. Do not place electric appliances near water. It can cause electrocution.
6. Stay away from electric power lines when flying a kite. Do not climb on power posts too.
7. Do not plug too many appliances into an outlet. An overloaded outlet, called an “octopus connection,”
can cause fire.
8. Do not touch light switches or plugs of appliances when your hands are wet or when you are standing
on a wet surface.
9. Call a qualified electrician if you want to repair your faulty wiring or broken appliances. Do not repair
them yourself if you are not trained to do so.
10.Cover electrical outlets with plastic caps especially if there are children in your home. This will
prevent them from putting things inside or playing with the outlets. The plastic caps can be bought in
most appliance or electrical stores.

Fuses and circuit breakers

Fuses and circuit breakers - are devices that ensure safety when faults and problems in a circuit arise.
A fuse - is an electrical safety device that operates to provide overcurrent protection of an electrical
circuit. Its essential component is a metal wire or strip that melts when too much current flows through
it, thereby stopping or interrupting the current.

A circuit breaker - is an automatically operated electrical switch designed to protect an electrical circuit
from damage caused by excess current from an overload or short circuit. Its basic function is to interrupt
current flow after a fault is detected. Unlike a fuse, which operates once and then must be replaced, a
circuit breaker can be reset (either manually or automatically) to resume normal operation.