Skip to content
MeerkatSkool Afrikaans
Summaries · Grade 4 Natural Sciences › Electric circuits
Free summary · Grade 4 Natural Sciences

Electric circuits

How a simple circuit works, and how to stay safe with electricity. Read one part at a time and tap “I know this”. Then test yourself in the quiz.

Know it already? Jump straight to the quiz

Your progress0 of 3

The circuit

cellbulbswitchwirescurrent
The loop is closed: current flows and the bulb lights.
  • The filament in the bulb glows when current passes: electrical energy becomes light.
  • Add a second cell and the bulb usually burns brighter.
  • A flat battery: the bulb dims and then goes out.
  • A loose wire makes the bulb flicker, because the circuit opens and closes.
Tap when you could tell someone without looking.

Conductors and insulators

Wires are made of copper, because copper conducts electricity well. They are covered in plastic to protect people from shocks. A plastic ruler instead of a wire: the bulb does not light.

Rule

On a circuit diagram a cell is a long and a short line.

Tap when you could tell someone without looking.

Stay safe

  • Never push anything into a plug socket.
  • Never touch an appliance with wet hands: water conducts electricity.
  • Stay far away from a fallen power line and tell an adult.
  • A circuit breaker cuts the current when there is danger.
The meerkat’s electricity safety rules.
The meerkat’s electricity safety rules.
Meerkat tip

The geyser that heats water uses the most electricity in a house.

Tap when you could tell someone without looking.

Remember this and test yourself

Remember this: your summary
  • A circuit is a complete loop: cell, wires and a bulb.
  • The cell (battery) supplies the energy; the switch opens or closes the circuit.
  • The bulb only lights in a closed circuit; a gap stops the current.
  • Conductors (copper) let current through; insulators (rubber, plastic) do not.
  • Safety: nothing into a plug socket, not with wet hands, away from fallen power lines.

Write these points in your book. Read them again the night before the test.

Memory trick

No circle, no current: the circuit must be a closed loop, like a necklace with no break.

Flash cards · Tap to turn over

Important words

First say what the word means, then turn the card over.

Test yourself · Part 2

True or false?

Read the question and the answer. Is the answer right? Tap True or False.

    Now the real quiz!

    The quiz has many more questions on this topic. Every question shows straight away whether you are right and explains why.

    Take the quiz: Electric circuits
    All Grade 4 Natural Sciences summaries
    For parents
    • Read one part together and ask your child to tell it back in their own words.
    • The ticks (“I know this”) are saved on this device only. We never ask for names or emails.

    Follows CAPS for Grade 4 Natural Sciences and Technology. Always check your teacher’s notes and textbook too.

    Free PDF