Science Spotlight On... Transforming Energy With Circuits

This week in Year 9 Science, our students became electrical engineers and explored how circuits transfer and transform energy. As part of our unit ‘Physics is Electrifying’, students built their own working circuits using power supplies, switches, two light bulbs, an ammeter, two voltmeters and a multimeter. Their challenge was not just to make the bulbs light up, but to measure what was happening in the circuit—investigating electromotive force (EMF), potential difference and current.

A key focus of this practical was learning how to correctly wire the measuring devices. Students discovered that ammeters must be connected in series to measure current, while voltmeters are placed in parallel to measure potential difference across components. This hands-on experience helped reinforce the theory behind how energy is transferred from the power supply and transformed into light and heat in the bulbs.

Using their measurements, students explored the relationship between voltage, current and resistance, applying their understanding of Ohm’s Law in a real-world context. By measuring the resistance of each bulb and comparing values, they began to see how different components influence the behaviour of a circuit.

Of course, not every circuit worked perfectly the first time. Troubleshooting loose connections, mis-wired meters and unexpected readings became an important part of the learning process. These moments of problem-solving help deepen students’ understanding and build resilience; proving that sometimes the best learning happens when the bulb doesn’t light up straight away.

Science Faculty