Going round and round with an electrical circuit

To make an electrical charge move through a pathway, that pathway must form a complete circuit.

The electricity is conducted through a wire and through a light bulb or electrical appliance before the electrons are returned to the battery or generator along another wire, completing the electric circuit.

To use the electricity in a light bulb or appliance, different types of conductive material are added to the circuit that change the behaviour of the electricity.

For example, the special wire filament in a light bulb and the heating element in an electric kettle have a higher electrical resistance. The electrons are forced to move slowly and bunch up.

This transforms some of the electrical energy into light or heat energy, making the light bulb light up and the kettle boil water.

The rest of the electrons continue along a wire back to the battery or generator to complete the circuit.

A circuit is a complete loop of pathway along which electric current flows.
This circuit is connected in series.