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Build A Simple Electric Circuit

By Rookie Parenting Science Updated 05/16/2020

What is electricity?

We use electricity everywhere in our daily lives.

Let’s find out how it works.

LED light to build a simple electric circuit experiment

Build A Simple Electric Circuit Experiment

Active Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

In this experiment, we will build a simple closed circuit conducting electricity.

Materials

  • small LED light (you can buy a single LED bulb or get one from an old Christmas string light decoration)
  • 2 small button batteries
  • copper wire
  • scotch tape

Tools

  • wire cutter
  • adult supervision

Instructions

  1. Cut two pieces of copper wire.

    LED light bulb
    2 copper wires, a LED light, 2 batters, What you need to build a simple electric cicuit
  2. Stack the two button batteries together (facing the same direction so that + on one battery is touching the – on the other).
  3. Tape the two pieces of wire onto the batteries, one on the top and one on the bottom.

    stack the batteries, tape the two Copper wires on both sides of the batteries
  4. Connect one wire to one leg of the LED light and the other wire to the other leg.

    Connect the wires to the other side of the two copper wires in the above ensemble
  5. The LED light goes off. Voila! Now you have a simple electric circuit.

    use a finger to press the copper wire and the LED light legs together if needed
  6. Try to connect and disconnect the wire from the LED light and see what happens.

Notes

A simple electric circuit is an electricity supply (e.g. batteries) connected to a series of electrical wires and electrical equipment (e.g. LED light) to form a circle.

When the circle is not complete, it is called an open circuit. The electrical equipment does not work in an open circuit.

When the circle is complete, electric current can travel from one point of the circle around the loop back to the same point. It is called a closed circuit. The equipment works in a closed circuit.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

  • LED Diode Lights
    LED Diode Lights
  • Button Cell Battery
    Button Cell Battery
  • Bare Copper Wire
    Bare Copper Wire
© Rookie Parenting

Books

  • Electronics for Kids: Play with Simple Circuits and Experiment with Electricity!
    Electronics for Kids: Play with Simple Circuits and Experiment with Electricity!
  • How Does My Home Work?
    How Does My Home Work?
  • Charged Up: The Story of Electricity
    Charged Up: The Story of Electricity
A finger presses copper wire connected to an LED light. Build a simple closed electric circuit.

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