Student Worksheet/Instructions

• In front of you should be:
  • D-cell battery
  • small light bulb
  • two connecting wires
• as the teacher instructs you to do so, follow the directions then answer the following questions

1. Electricity is used to power a lot of things such as light bulbs, computers, and even cars. But how does electricity move from one place to another? A battery is a form of stored electricity. It has a high potential end (+) and a low potential end (-). For a light bulb to light, a complete circuit must be made by running electricity to the bulb then back from it. To get the electricity from the battery to a light bulb, for example, you have to have something that will conduct (or move) the electricity. Conductors move electricity easily, and are usually metals. Usually when you see an electrical wire in your house, it is surrounded by a rubber coating. This is because rubber is a good insulator. An insulator does not move electricity easily, and they are usually non-metals.

2. Fill out the table:

3. What is needed for the light bulb to light?

4. A complete circuit is made up of a ______ potential end and a ______ potential end, and something that connects them together.

5. If you connect one wire to the positive end of the battery and another wire to the negative end of the battery, then connect the two wires together, do you have a complete circuit? Explain.

*Extra Credit: In the same situation as question #5, would you have a complete circuit if you put an eraser between the two wires? Would you have a complete circuit if you put a quarter between the two wires? Why? (Hint: use think of conductors and insulators)