SIMPLE CIRCUIT

Background

Unlike static electricity that can exist on a single object, electrical current flows between objects.

Materials Needed

1 bread board 2 wires with washers 1 piece of string 1 battery in holder 1 light bulb push pins

Procedure

1. Figure out how to make the light bulb light.

2. Once you figure it out, draw a "schematic" of your circuit on the next page. This sort of picture is used to describe how to build a particular circuit. It uses symbols to represent things like the battery and light bulb. It shows what each wire connects together. Here are some of the symbols you can use for your schematic:

3. Once you have drawn your schematic, see how many different ways you can get the bulb to light. Draw a schematic for each one. What things are necessary in your circuit for the bulb to light?

4. Build the circuit shown here and make sure the bulb lights. Take out one of the wires. What happens? Why?

5. Build the circuit shown here and make sure the bulb lights. Replace the wire by the string. What happens?

Question

The string is an insulator and the wire a conductor. How might you define these terms?

An insulator is

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A conductor is

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