Simple Circuits
About
Simple Circuits is an interactive canvas simulation where you physically wire a series circuit by dragging wire endpoints onto component terminals. Place the battery, switch, and lamp on a virtual workbench, then connect them with three wire segments to build a working circuit.
A circuit is only complete — and the lamp only lights — when all three connections are made simultaneously: battery to switch, switch to lamp, and lamp back to battery. Toggling the switch opens or closes the loop, demonstrating the difference between an open circuit and a closed (complete) circuit in real time.
Learning Goals
- Identify the components needed to make a bulb light up in a series circuit
- Explain the difference between an open circuit and a closed (complete) circuit
- Describe the role of each component: battery as energy source, switch as control, wire as conductor, and lamp as load
- Correctly wire a series circuit by connecting battery, switch, and lamp in a complete loop
How to Use
- Drag the small circles at each end of the three wire segments from the upper-right wire bank onto the circuit board
- Arrange the wire endpoints to form a complete rectangular loop connecting the battery, switch, and lamp terminals
- Click the switch image to close it — current will flow and the lamp will light if all connections are correct
- Click "Bulb Energy" or "Battery Energy" buttons to add real-time energy charts and watch a 10-second animated circuit run