Answer Key with Questions

Lesson Check: Simple Circuits

1) A student builds a circuit that lights a lightbulb. A second bulb is added to the same loop
between the first bulb and the battery. Which statement describes the brightness of each
bulb?

A) Each bulb will be as bright as the first bulb was.

B) The first bulb will be the same brightness, and the second bulb will be dimmer.
C) Each bulb will be dimmer than the first bulb was.
D) The first bulb will be dimmer than it was, and the second bulb will not light.

Correct Answer
C) Each bulb will be dimmer than the first bulb was.

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Answer Key with Questions
Lesson Check: Simple Circuits

2) Use the diagram to answer the following questions.

The images show two steps in a procedure a student used to examine an electric circuit.
Which question might the student be investigating?

A) How does changing the voltage affect the brightness of a light bulb?
B) How does an open circuit compare with a closed circuit?
C) Is a light bulb an electric insulator or an electric conductor?
D) Is more energy transformed in an electric circuit in a light bulb or in a wire?

Correct Answer
D) Is more energy transformed in an electric circuit in a light bulb or in a wire?

3) Which statement best describes an electric current?

A) Energy transfers inside of an electric device.

B) Charged particles move through a conductor.
C) Type of conductor or insulator.
D) The measurement of the electric potential energy in a circuit.

Correct Answer
B) Charged particles move through a conductor.

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Answer Key with Questions
Lesson Check: Simple Circuits

4) Which conditions would prevent an electric current in a circuit and stop any energy
transfer from happening?

A) disconnecting a wire

B) closing a switch

C) removing the battery

D) adding a second battery

E) opening a switch

Correct Answer
A) disconnecting a wire
C) removing the battery
E) opening a switch

5) The circuit in the diagram is closed, so charge particles travel through the wires and light
the bulbs.

True

False

Correct Answer
True

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Answer Key with Questions
Lesson Check: Simple Circuits

6) Adding which object to a circuit will create a potential energy difference in a circuit?

A) switch
B) wire
C) light bulb
D) battery

Correct Answer
D) battery

7) An electric current occurs in a circuit because negatively charged particles are repelled by
negatively charged particles in a battery.

True

False

Correct Answer
True

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Answer Key with Questions
Lesson Check: Simple Circuits

8) A light bulb is powered by a single D-cell. What happens if two D-cells connected end-to-
end are used?

A) The light bulb burns brighter because the current will be larger.
B) The light bulb burns brighter because the current will be smaller.
C) The light bulb burns dimmer because the current will be larger.
D) The light bulb burns dimmer because the current will be smaller.

Correct Answer
A) The light bulb burns brighter because the current will be larger.

9) An electric is the movement of electrically charged particles.

Correct Answer
current

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Answer Key with Questions
Lesson Check: Simple Circuits

10) Use the diagram to answer the following questions.

A student examines an electric circuit using a voltmeter. The images show two steps in
the procedure used. Next, the student reconnects the wires from the voltmeter so that
one wire touches the positive end of the battery and the other wire touches the negative
end.
a. Make an argument about whether the reading on the meter would be closer to the first
reading or the second reading shown. Use evidence to support your argument.

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Answer Key with Questions
Lesson Check: Simple Circuits

b. What would happen to the current in the circuit if the lightbulb were removed? Explain
your reasoning.

Correct Answer
Answers may vary.

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Answer Key with Questions
Lesson Check: Simple Circuits

Explanation

a. The reading on the meter would be more like the first reading. Volts are the measure of
potential energy difference. The greatest difference will occur between the two ends of the
battery.
b. The current would no longer exist because the circuit would be open. Charges cannot
flow in an open circuit.

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Extended-Response Rubric
Level of
Evidence of Understanding
Understanding
Student response provides clear evidence of using the dimensions* to make sense of
scientific phenomena and/or to design solutions to problems. Student is able to:
Demonstrating ▪ predict that the reading on the voltmeter would be closest to the first reading shown and
3 Expected support the argument using evidence;
Understanding
AND
▪ identify what would happen to the current if the lightbulb were removed and provide an
explanation.

Student response provides partial evidence of using the dimensions* to make sense
of scientific phenomena and/or to design solutions to problems. The response lacks
some critical information and details or contains some errors. Student is able to:
▪ predict that the reading on the voltmeter would be closest to the first reading shown
Progressing and support the argument using evidence BUT the description and explanation of what
2 toward would happen to the current if the lightbulb were removed contains errors or is not
Understanding provided;
OR
▪ identify what would happen to the current if the lightbulb were removed and provide
an explanation BUT prediction and support that the reading on the voltmeter would
be closest to the first reading shown contains errors or is not provided.

Beginning
Student response is incomplete or provides minimal evidence of using the dimensions* to
1 to Develop
make sense of scientific phenomena and/or to design solutions to problems.
Understanding

Student does not respond or student response is inaccurate, irrelevant, or contains

Not Showing
0 insufficient evidence of using the dimensions* to make sense of scientific phenomena
Understanding
and/or to design solutions to problems.

*As outlined in the Performance Expectations (PE) of the NGSS, the three dimensions are the disciplinary core ideas (DCI), science and engineering
practices (SEP), and crosscutting concepts (CCC). Note that due to the complexity of the PEs, individual assessment items may not address all three
dimensions.

Scoring Notes:
Possible answers include:
a. The reading on the meter would be more like the first reading. Volts are the measure of potential energy difference.
The greatest difference will occur between the two ends of the battery.
b. The current would no longer exist because the circuit would be open. Charges cannot flow in an open circuit.