Page 61 - DK Children's Encyclopedia

Circuits SEE ALSO

▸ ▸ Computers p.71
▸ ▸ Electricity p.87
A circuit is when an object that uses electricity is ▸ ▸ Light p.147
connected with wires to a power source. Circuits in our ▸ ▸ Measuring
homes connect lights and appliances, like the fridge or p. 159

television, to electricity. ▸ ▸ Television p.251

How circuits work Wires are
covered in
When a circuit is a complete plastic to stop
loop with no gaps, electricity can electricity
flow around it. We use symbols escaping.
to represent the different parts
of the circuit. Battery “cell”
Batteries are power
sources that hold
Electricity electricity. Electricity
travels through can flow around the
metal wires. circuit when we
connect it to both
ends of a battery.

Switch
Electricity only flows Light bulbs
around the circuit when Electricity makes the
the switch closes and is light bulb switch on
switched on. Once the and light up. Objects
switch is opened, in a circuit that need
the circuit breaks. electricity to work are
called components.

Circuit boards
Computers have tiny
boards in them called
circuit boards. Circuit
boards have lots of
The flow of
electricity wires connected up
to tiny components
around the circuit to make the
Crocodile clips is called the computer work.
connect circuit current.
wires to objects.

59

US_059_Circuits.indd 59 16/05/2017 09:46