Science Energyusually ages 11–12

Current, voltage, and what they measure

Understand that electric current is the rate of flow of charge (measured in amperes using an ammeter), and that potential difference (voltage) is the energy transferred per unit charge (measured in volts using a voltmeter)

How to tell they’ve got it

Tick these off as you see them — no test required.

States that current is measured in amperes (A) and is the rate at which charge flows around a circuit
States that potential difference (voltage) is measured in volts (V) and represents energy transferred per unit charge
Correctly connects an ammeter in series and a voltmeter in parallel when building or interpreting a circuit

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Try this together

If your child sets up a circuit with an ammeter and a voltmeter, can they explain what each one is measuring and describe the difference between current and voltage?

Where this sits on the map

Stuck here? Check the skills it builds on first. Confident? Here’s what it unlocks.

Builds on

Circuit vocabularyages 9–11Understanding current as charge flow and voltage as energy per charge requires these exact technical terms

Drawing circuits with proper symbolsages 10–11Understanding current and voltage as quantities requires the ability to read circuit diagrams with standard symbols, established at KS2

More batteries, brighter bulbages 10–11KS2 observation that more cells gives brighter bulbs is the empirical foundation for defining voltage as energy per charge

Current, voltage, and what they measurethis skill · ages 11–12

Unlocks

Electromagnetsages 12–13The magnetic effect of a current requires understanding what an electric current is and how it flows

Ohm's Law: voltage, current, resistanceages 12–13Ohm's Law relates voltage (V), current (I) and resistance (R) — requires prior understanding of what each quantity means

Static electricity and sparksages 11–12Understanding charge flow in circuits (current) enriches the concept of static charge as a build-up of charge with no flow path

solid = must come firstdashed = helps

Curriculum alignment

Candidate matches to official curriculum codes — machine-suggested, unreviewed (v0.1).

This skill sits outside the F–6 Australian Curriculum — no candidate code matched (v0.1). No NSW K–6 outcome code matched (v0.1). No Victorian Curriculum 2.0 code matched (v0.1).

Nearby on the map

Energy can't be created or destroyedages 11–12 Energy stores and transfersages 11–12 Static electricity and sparksages 11–12 Conduction, convection, and radiationages 12–13

All Energy skills →