How to Make a Light From Batteries

Illuminating a light with a battery will teach children how electrons work as they move through an electric current. To make the light bulb power on, you must complete the circuit of electricity to the bulb and back from the battery.

Things You'll Need

• Aluminum foil
• Scissors
• D-cell battery
• 2.5 volt light bulb
• Scotch tape

Instructions

1. Cut 2 strips of aluminum foil about ½-inch wide and 6-inches long each.

2. Fold the lengths of the aluminum foil until the strips resemble strings or snakes of aluminum foil.

3. Tape an end of one of the strips of aluminum foil to the positive side of a D-cell battery using a small piece of scotch tape.

4. Attach the other end of the foil to the base of a 2.5 to 3-volt light, which is the type of light bulb you will find in a flashlight. Use a small piece of tape to attach it to the bulb.

5. Use the other strip of aluminum foil and attach one end to the base of the light bulb. Make sure that the two pieces of foil are not touching on the bulb.

6. Touch the other end of the aluminum foil to the negative side of the battery. If you have followed the steps correctly, your flashlight light bulb should light up.

Tips & Warnings

• You can also use pieces of wire for this experiment instead of aluminum foil.