Physics · Unit 8

Electricity and Magnets

Sparks, circuits and magnets

Electricity and magnetism were studied separately for centuries and turned out to be the same phenomenon, which is one of the great unifications in science.

The unit covers static and current electricity, conductors and insulators, simple circuits, and magnets and poles - laying the groundwork before the two subjects are joined.

This unit breaks down into 20 short steps and 119 questions, starting at difficulty 1 and building to 2. Below you can see exactly what it covers, how the path is structured, and worked examples with explanations.

Steps: 20
Questions: 119
Difficulty: 1-2

What this unit covers

Magnets and Poles
Current Electricity
Static Electricity
Conductors and Insulators
Simple Circuits

Where this fits

Before Electricity and Electromagnetism, which completes the connection.

Where people slip

Current is the flow of charge, and voltage is what pushes it. Voltage does not flow, and describing it as though it does causes most early circuit confusion.

How the unit is structured

Electricity and Magnets runs as 20 short steps that unlock in order. 15 are practice rounds and 5 are challenge rounds that pull together everything before them. Questions start at difficulty 1 and climb to 2 as you progress.

Step 1 · easierStep 20 · harder

Challenge rounds

Example questions

30 real questions from this unit, with the answer and the reason behind it, grouped by what they practise. There are 119 in the unit altogether.

Conductors and Insulators

Build the sentenceLevel 1
1. Build the true sentence about metals and electricity.
Answer: metals are good conductors
Metals conduct electricity well, so we use them for wires.
Choose all that applyLevel 1
2. Which of these are insulators that block electricity?
- Plasticcorrect
- Rubbercorrect
- Glasscorrect
- Copper
Plastic, rubber and glass block electricity, but copper conducts it.
Multiple choiceLevel 1
3. Which material lets electricity pass through it easily?
- Metalcorrect
- Wood
- Plastic
- Rubber
Metals are good conductors, so electricity flows through them easily.
Fact or fibLevel 2
4. Tap water is a perfect insulator and never lets electricity pass through it.
Answer: False
Tap water contains dissolved minerals that let it conduct electricity, which is why water and electricity are dangerous together.
Fill the blankLevel 2
5. Materials that let electricity flow through them easily are called ____.
- conductorscorrect
- insulators
- magnets
- batteries
Conductors, such as metals, allow electric current to pass through them easily.
Match the pairsLevel 2
6. Match each material used in a mains plug or cable to its job.
Answer: Copper = the wire that carries the current; Plastic = the outer covering that insulates the cable; Brass = the pins of the plug; Rubber = a protective grip that blocks current
Copper carries the current, plastic and rubber insulate, and hard-wearing brass is used for the plug pins.

Current Electricity

Build the sentenceLevel 1
7. Build a true sentence about how electricity moves.
Answer: current flows through the wire
Current flows through the wire when the circuit is complete.
Fill the blankLevel 1
8. The strength of an electric current is measured in units called ____.
- ampscorrect
- litres
- metres
- grams
The strength of a current is measured in amps.
Guess the numberLevel 1
9. How many volts is a common small round AA battery?
Answer: 1.5 volts
A typical AA battery is about 1.5 volts.
Match the pairsLevel 1
10. Match each electricity word to what it means.
Answer: Current = Flow of electricity; Battery = Store of electric energy; Wire = Path for the current; Switch = Turns the flow on or off
Each part plays its own role in moving electricity.
Multiple choiceLevel 1
11. What is an electric current?
- A flow of electricity through a wirecorrect
- A kind of loud sound
- A type of light bulb
- A small magnet
An electric current is electricity flowing along a wire.
Fact or fibLevel 2
12. Voltage is measured using a voltmeter connected across a component.
Answer: True
A voltmeter measures the voltage across a component and is connected in parallel with it.

Magnets and Poles

Match the pairsLevel 1
13. Match each magnet situation to what happens.
Answer: North pole meets north pole = They push apart; North pole meets south pole = They pull together; Magnet near an iron nail = The nail is attracted; Magnet near a plastic cup = Nothing happens
Like poles repel, opposite poles attract, and magnets only pull magnetic materials.
Multiple choiceLevel 1
14. Which material is a magnet most strongly attracted to?
- Ironcorrect
- Paper
- Wood
- Glass
Magnets pull strongly on iron and steel but not on paper, wood or glass.
Odd one outLevel 1
15. Which one would a magnet NOT pick up?
- A plastic buttoncorrect
- A steel pin
- An iron nail
- A metal paperclip
A magnet attracts steel and iron objects but not plastic ones.
Choose all that applyLevel 2
16. Which of these metals are magnetic and attracted to a magnet? (Choose all that apply.)
- Ironcorrect
- Nickelcorrect
- Copper
- Gold
Iron and nickel are magnetic metals, while copper and gold are not attracted to magnets.
Fact or fibLevel 2
17. An electromagnet can be switched on and off by turning its current on and off, unlike a permanent magnet.
Answer: True
An electromagnet only acts as a magnet while current flows, so it can be switched on and off.
Fill the blankLevel 2
18. A bar magnet is strongest at its two ____.
- polescorrect
- middle
- edges
- corners
The magnetic force is strongest at the poles, where the field lines are closest together.

Simple Circuits

Choose all that applyLevel 1
19. Which parts are needed for a simple circuit that lights a bulb?
- A batterycorrect
- Wirescorrect
- A bulbcorrect
- A glass of milk
A battery, wires and a bulb together make a working circuit.
Fact or fibLevel 1
20. Adding a second battery can make a bulb shine brighter.
Answer: True
More batteries give a bigger push, so the bulb can glow brighter.
Fill the blankLevel 1
21. A ____ is used to turn a circuit on and off.
- switchcorrect
- balloon
- ruler
- sponge
A switch closes the loop to turn it on and opens it to turn it off.
Build the sentenceLevel 2
22. Build the rule for how a voltmeter is connected.
Answer: A voltmeter is connected in parallel
A voltmeter is connected in parallel across the component whose voltage you want to measure.
Guess the numberLevel 2
23. Two resistors of 5 ohms and 7 ohms are connected in series. What is their total resistance?
Answer: 12 ohms
Resistances in series simply add up: 5 ohms + 7 ohms = 12 ohms.
Match the pairsLevel 2
24. Match each circuit symbol description to the component it stands for.
Answer: A long line next to a short line = Cell; A circle with a cross inside = Lamp; A gap with a small lever = Switch; A plain rectangle in the wire = Resistor
A long and short line is a cell, a circle with a cross is a lamp, a gap with a lever is a switch, and a rectangle is a resistor.

Static Electricity

Fact or fibLevel 1
25. Lightning is a giant burst of static electricity.
Answer: True
Lightning happens when huge static charges jump as an enormous spark.
Fill the blankLevel 1
26. The little shock you feel touching a metal door handle is caused by ____ electricity.
- staticcorrect
- boiling
- flowing
- frozen
Static charge built up on your body jumps to the handle as a tiny spark.
Multiple choiceLevel 1
27. When you rub a balloon on your hair, what often happens to your hair?
- It stands up and reaches toward the ballooncorrect
- It changes colour
- It becomes wet
- It grows longer
Rubbing gives the balloon a static charge that pulls your hair toward it.
Odd one outLevel 1
28. Which one is NOT caused by static electricity?
- A fridge magnet holding up a drawingcorrect
- Hair standing up after using a slide
- A spark when touching a door handle
- Paper sticking to a rubbed balloon
The fridge magnet works by magnetism, while the others are all static electricity.
Picture questionLevel 1
29. 🎈 This balloon was rubbed on a wool jumper. What did it gain?
- A static chargecorrect
- Extra air
- A magnet
- A battery
Rubbing transfers charge, so the balloon becomes statically charged.
Sort into groupsLevel 2
30. Sort each pair of charged objects into whether they attract or repel.
Answer: A positive rod near a negative rod = attract; Two negatively charged balloons = repel; Two positively charged rods = repel; A negative comb near positive bits of paper = attract
Opposite charges attract while like charges repel.

Where these questions come from. Each unit starts as a plan of the concepts it should cover and the difficulty it should span. Questions are written against that plan with AI assistance, then checked by a validator that rejects anything without a single defensible answer, an explanation, or plausible wrong options. How we write questions sets out the whole process, and corrections are fixed in the bank and reach the site and the app the same day.

How you practise

This unit mixes 17 different question formats, so you are recalling and applying rather than recognising the same layout every time.

Build the sentence
Choose all that apply
Fact or fib
Fill the blank
Guess the number
Listen and choose
Match the pairs
Multiple choice
Odd one out
Picture question
Put in order
Sequence recall
Sort into groups
Spell it
Tap the pairs
True or false
Type the answer

Practise Electricity and Magnets

119 questions across 20 steps. Start with step one and crawl at your own pace.

Play this unit

Read about Electricity and Magnets

Explainers from our blog on what this unit covers. Each one ends with real questions from the bank.

How Magnets Create Forces at a DistanceMagnets create fields that exert forces on other magnets and magnetic materials. Poles, field direction and moving electric charges help explain attraction, repulsion and electromagnets.July 29, 2026 · 5 min read

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