A student flips a battery around in a working circuit so its two terminals point the opposite way, while every wire stays connected to the same terminals just in reverse. What happens to the lit bulb?

In a working single-loop circuit, a student disconnects the battery and the bulb, then reconnects them in the opposite order along the same loop, so the wires still form one closed path. What happens to the bulb?

A single loop already has one lit bulb in it. A student adds a buzzer into that same loop, in line with the bulb, so current must now pass through both. What happens?

A flashlight stops working, but the battery is new and the bulb is not burned out. What is the most likely reason the bulb gives no light?

Ana wires one bulb to a battery. Ben wires two bulbs into a single loop with an identical battery. Whose bulbs glow more dimly, and why?

Ana bridges a gap in her circuit with a steel paper clip and the bulb lights. She swaps in a rubber eraser of the same size and the bulb goes dark. What kind of material is the eraser?

A bulb stays dark while the switch in its circuit is left open, because an open switch leaves a gap and the current cannot travel all the way around the loop.

A slow marble and a fast marble of the same size each roll into an identical standing block. What difference will you see, and why?

A doorbell circuit normally rings only while a visitor holds the button down. A student removes the button and touches the two wires it was connected to directly together instead. What happens to the bell?

A circuit's AA battery has been in use for a long time and is now weak, though every wire is still connected exactly the same way as before. What most likely happens to the bulb?

A working circuit uses one AA battery to light a bulb. A student swaps it for a AAA battery with the same voltage rating and reconnects the circuit the same way. What happens to the bulb?

A circuit with a gap in its loop, so current cannot flow all the way around, is called a closed circuit.

A lit circuit has a copper wire connecting the battery to the bulb. A student replaces that wire with a glass rod of the same length and shape, keeping every connection touching. What happens to the bulb?

A circuit is dark because a glass rod sits in the gap where a wire should connect the battery to the bulb. A student replaces the glass rod with a strip of aluminum foil of the same size. What happens to the bulb?

A student cuts the wire in a previously switch-less, working circuit and connects both cut ends to a switch that starts in the open position. What happens to the bulb?

In a simple flashlight circuit, the battery is the energy source.

A simple flashlight circuit has a battery, wires, a switch, and a bulb. Which part uses the electrical energy to do a useful job?

Two bulbs are wired into a single loop with one battery. If one bulb is removed from its socket, leaving a gap where it was, what happens to the other bulb?

Two bulbs are wired so that each one has its own separate wire path back to the same battery. One of the bulbs burns out. What happens to the other bulb?

Maya's toy is wired like this picture, with each bulb on its own path to the battery. Leo's toy has two bulbs in one single loop with an identical battery. Whose bulbs glow brighter?

What is the main job of wires in a simple circuit?

It is safe to touch electrical devices with wet hands because water always stops electricity.

Which set of parts can make a working simple circuit?

Why do many electrical cords have plastic or rubber around the metal wire?

Two identical bulbs sit on one loop of wire with one battery. The bulb closer to the battery shines brighter, because the electricity reaches it first.

What can happen during a short circuit?

In many circuit diagrams, straight lines are used to represent what part?

When a bulb lights in a circuit, electrical energy is changed mostly into light energy and some heat energy.

A small motor is wired into a closed loop with a battery and starts to spin. What energy change happens in the motor?

A single loop has two switches in it, both closed, and its bulb is lit. A student opens just one of the two switches. What happens to the bulb?

A circuit can work even if the battery is not connected to the rest of the path.

What is the main job of a switch in a circuit?

A student adds a second battery correctly to a simple circuit with one bulb. What is one likely result?

A working circuit has its battery connected at both terminals. A student pulls the wire off just one terminal and leaves every other connection touching. What happens to the bulb?

A circuit is dark because a dry wooden craft stick bridges a gap in the loop. A student swaps the wooden stick for a steel nail of the same size. What happens to the bulb?

What is one advantage of using a circuit diagram?

The battery in this loop holds stored energy, and it changes that stored energy into electrical energy that lights both bulbs.

A single loop already has one lit bulb in it. A student adds a small motor into that same loop, in line with the bulb, so current must pass through both. What is one likely result?

A single loop has a lit bulb and a sounding buzzer wired together. A student removes the buzzer and bridges the gap it leaves with a plain piece of wire, instead of leaving the gap open. What happens to the bulb?

The connecting wire in a working circuit is swapped for a much longer wire of the same metal, and every connection still touches. What happens to the bulb?