In this workshop you will learn how electricity moves through a circuit by building your own, starting with a single LED and a coin battery and working up to a breadboard with multiple lights. We’ll explore voltage, current, and resistance, and compare series and parallel circuits to see why some lights glow brighter than others.
Prerequisites: None. This is an intro workshop and no electronics experience is needed. Risks: Coin batteries can get hot if their + and – sides are connected directly (a short circuit).
Material List
Safety First
Battery & Electronics Safety
What is Electricity?
Electricity is the flow of electrical energy caused by the movement of tiny particles called electrons. Electrons are negatively charges particles that move towards a positive charge.
Three words help us describe electricity in a circuit:
Name | Description | Unit | Symbol |
Voltage (V) | The “push” that causes current to flow | volt | V |
Current (I) | The flow of electrons in a circuit | amp | A |
Resistance (R) | Opposes (slows down) current flow in a circuit | ohm | Ω |
What Is Electricity and How Does It Work? | Constellation
What is a Circuit?
A circuit is a closed path that electric current can flow around. Electrons are pushed out of the negative (–) side of the battery, travel through the wires and parts, and return to the positive (+) side. If there is any gap in the loop, the circuit is “open” and nothing flows.Let’s Build a Circuit:
Let’s Build a Circuit: Parts
Battery
The power source. It provides the voltage (the push). The longer line in the symbol is the + side.
Wire
Connects the parts so current has a path to follow.
- Aligator clips
- Jumper wires
- Other conductive material!
Light Bulb
Turns electrical energy into into light.
- Incandescent bulb
- Electrical energy into heat, and that heat into light. It doesn’t matter which way you connect them.
- LED [Light Emitting Diode]
- Electrical energy directly into light, with very little heat. LEDs only work in one direction
Switch
Opens and closes the circuit, like a drawbridge for electrons.
Let’s Build a Circuit:
Parts
Battery
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Wire
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Light Bulb
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