Simple Circuit
by ArcadeLabA friendly electric circuit kids can switch on and off. Tap the switch to close the loop and the bulb lights up while glowing dots show current flowing from the battery. Toggle between a series circuit and a parallel circuit with two bulbs and watch the brightness change — series bulbs share the push and shine dimmer, parallel bulbs each get the full push and shine bright. A clear first look at how electricity flows.
Frequently asked
What makes a circuit light a bulb?
A bulb lights when there is a complete, unbroken loop from the battery, through the wires and bulb, and back. The switch is a gap in that loop — close it and current flows, open it and the bulb goes dark.
What is the difference between series and parallel circuits?
In a series circuit the bulbs sit on one single loop and share the battery's push, so each shines dimmer. In a parallel circuit each bulb has its own loop to the battery, so each gets the full push and shines bright.
What are the moving dots in the simulation?
The dots represent electric current — the flow of charge around the circuit. They move only when the circuit is complete, which helps kids see that electricity needs a closed path.