What is an electric circuit?
An electric circuit is a path that electricity flows around. When the path is complete, electricity flows and the bulb lights up. A simple circuit is made of a few parts.
The parts
- Cell (battery) — this stores the electricity.
- Wires — these carry the electricity from part to part.
- Bulb — this lights up when electricity flows.
- Switch — this turns the circuit on and off.
Key idea
A simple circuit needs a cell, wires, a bulb and a switch. The bulb lights up only when the circuit is complete.
The switch
The switch is like a gate. When the switch is on, the circuit is complete and the bulb lights up. When the switch is off, there is a gap, so electricity cannot flow and the bulb goes dark. This is why we use a switch to turn a light on and off at home.