It's a Wired World

Let It Shine When you flip a light switch on the classroom wall, you’re drawing electricity all the way from a power plant to your light bulb. With just a battery, wire, and a bulb, you too can bring light to the classroom. The battery is like a power plant, and the wire carries electricity. Add the flashlight bulb, and you’ve got an electric circuit that is similar to the one that runs from the power plant to electricity customers and back.

SAFETY BASICS

The circuit you build is like the one from the power plant to your home or school. But the electric current in your home is much STRONGER than the current in your team’s circuit. NEVER EXPERIMENT WITH HOUSEHOLD ELECTRICITY. YOU COULD BE SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED.

Circuit: a closed path along which electricity can travel.

You’ve got a D battery, a flashlight bulb, and some copper wire stripped at the ends. Using these materials, see how many ways you can get the bulb to light. You may want to use tape to hold your circuit together.

TEAMWORK

Draw a diagram showing one of your successful circuits.

Draw a diagram showing an unsuccessful circuit.

What requirements must be met in order for the bulb to light?

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