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Does it matter in which direction electricity flows through a light bulb?
A light bulb turns electrical energy into heat no matter which way the current flows.
Does it matter where the switch is placed in the circuit?
An introduction to a simple electrical circuit. The battery pushes the electricity along the wires from the positive terminal, through the bulb and back to the negative terminal. To turn out the light, the circuit needs to be broken by adding a switch. It does not matter where the switch goes as the effect is the same.
Does it matter which end of the battery is connected to which part of the bulb in other words does the direction of charge flow matter here?
As far as a simple circuit like this is concerned, there is no difference. The three components that make up the circuit (battery, bulb and switch) are all connected in series.
How does electricity flow into a light bulb?
Light bulbs have a very simple structure. At the base, they have two metal contacts, which connect to the ends of an electrical circuit. When the bulb is hooked up to a power supply, an electric current flows from one contact to the other, through the wires and the filament.
What makes the bulb light up?
When a light bulb connects to an electrical power supply, an electrical current flows from one metal contact to the other. As the current travels through the wires and the filament, the filament heats up to the point where it begins to emit photons, which are small packets of visible light.
Why are wires on the side of a light bulb?
Using this activity, students should discover why wires need to be placed on the side of a light bulb and on the bottom of a light bulb in order for it to light. The students will complete a simple circuit using a battery, 2 wires, and a bulb.
How is a light bulb part of a simple circuit?
To understand how the light bulb becomes part of the simple circuit, the students will investigate the structure of a light bulb by looking inside a larger bulb. The students will then diagram the bulb’s structure and the flow of electricity through that simple circuit (including the bulb, the wires, and the battery).
How are battery bulb bulb and switch connected?
As far as a simple circuit like this is concerned, there is no difference. The three components that make up the circuit (battery, bulb and switch) are all connected in series.
What happens if you connect electric bulbs in a series?
If the three light bulbs are connected in series, the same current flows through all of them, and the voltage drop is 1.5 V across each bulb and that may not be sufficient to make them glow.