Charged particles of atoms are responsible for keeping lights on, your computer running, and even for the shock you might get after sliding your feet along the carpet. Electricity is the movement of charged particles. But how do we get these electrons moving? We must get the negatively charged electrons to move away from their postively charged protons. We will need energy to separate the opposite charges. Let's use a battery!!! The battery stores chemical energy and the volts will cause the electrons in a wire to flow. A circuit consists of a battery, some wire connecting the ends of the battery, a device which uses electricity and a switch. Imagine a light bulb as the device which uses electricity in this example of a circuit.
Electricity and Magnetism Hypercard Tutorial