How to Build a Circuit With a Battery

A great way to learn about battery power and electricity is to build a circuit yourself. Whether you need to complete a science project or just have a couple hours to kill in the afternoon, here is a simple way to keep busy while learning the basics of how electricity is transported around a circuit. Read on to learn how to build a circuit with a battery.

Things You'll Need

• Battery pack
• Plastic clothespin
• Number 22 insulated copper bell wire (Three 10 inch pieces with 1-inch of insulation stripped off both ends of all wires)
• Wire stripper
• Two small blocks of wood
• One drywall nail
• Thumbtacks
• Paper clip
• Small hammer
• 3-volt flashlight bulb
• Adhesive tape

Instructions

1. Strip 1-inch of insulation off the ends of the three wires with a wire stripper. Wind the bare wire end around a thumbtack, then hook a paperclip around the tack and press it into one of the wood blocks. Wind the second wire end around a different thumbtack and press that into the wood. In the middle of the wood block, place a third thumbtack, which will hold the paper clip in place. This is the switch for your circuit.

2. Nail a clothespin to the second wood block, using a small hammer, to start making the bulb holder. Next, with another tack, place a loose wire, the one in Step 1 from the switch, directly under the clothespin jaws, into the wood. Wrap the stripped end of the remaining wire around the flashlight bulb. Clamp it in the jaws of the clothespin.

3. Bend the stripped end of the second wire from Step 1 into a right angle. Using the adhesive tape, connect the wire to the positive lead of the battery pack.

4. Bend the stripped end of the remaining wire from Step 2, into a right angle. Connect it to the negative end of the battery pack with tape.

5. Press down on the paper clip switch to close the circuit. The bulb should light up as the circuit is closed.

Tips & Warnings

• Building the switch and bulb holder is fairly simple, but if you’d rather not have to build those, electric switches and bulb holders are available in stores.

• Always use caution or have adult supervision when stripping wires, using sharp tacks or pins, or when hammering in nails.

Resources

• Lots of information about circuits