Electricity in five minutes
Electricity is the energy that powers every gadget. Think of it like water flowing through pipes.
| Word | What it means | Water pipe idea |
|---|---|---|
| Voltage (volts, V) | How hard electricity is pushed | Water pressure |
| Current (amps, A) | How much electricity flows | How much water flows |
| Resistance (ohms, Ω) | How much something slows the flow | A narrow pipe |
The circle rule
Electricity only flows in a complete loop, called a circuit. It leaves the battery's + side, goes through your LED, and comes back to the − side. If the loop is broken anywhere, nothing works. A switch simply opens or closes the loop.
Meet the basic parts
- Battery or USB: the power source.
- Wire: the road electricity travels on.
- LED: a tiny light. It has a long leg (+) and a short leg (−).
- Resistor: a small part with coloured stripes that protects the LED from too much current.
- Breadboard: a board full of holes that lets you connect parts without soldering.