Introduction to Electricity

flow freely. A closed circuit, has no openings and allows for free flow of electrons. When you turn the light switch on, the circuit is closed and the light goes on. When you turn the light switch off, the light goes out, and the circuit is open.

Now would be a good time to make a simple circuit.

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You will need:

• 9 volt battery
• coated wire
• small light bulb - Radio Shack and other electronic stores carry them with wires already attached to them
• A battery connector for a 9 volt battery- again Radio Shack will have these. They look like the kind of connector in kids toys, the ones you attach the battery to, to make the toy operate.
• a sharp knife
• adult supervision

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Directions:

1. Cut two pieces of wire, about 4 inches each.
2. With an adults help, strip the ends of the wire, to expose about 1 inch of the metal inside.
3. Attach one end of the wire to the light bulb. Attach the other end to the battery holder.
4. Now attached the other wire to the other side of the light bulb.
5. Attach the other free end to the free end of the battery holder.
6. Attach the battery to the holder.

The light goes on! The electrons flow from the battery, through the wire to the light. They flow back out of the light, down the other wire and back to the battery.

This is the most simple circuit. Next week we will start to make more complicated circuits.

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