This experiment helps you understand one of the most important concepts in electronics: electric current. By connecting an LED to a battery, you will observe how electricity flows through a circuit and produces visible light.
The LED acts as an indicator that current is flowing through the circuit.
Understand how electric current flows in a closed circuit and how an LED can be used to visually observe that current flow.
Connect the LED in series with the battery so that current flows through the LED.
The longer leg of the LED connects to the positive terminal of the battery and the shorter leg connects to the negative terminal.
Connect the LED in series with the battery so that current flows through the LED.
When the LED lights up, it means electric current is flowing through the circuit. If the LED does not light up, the circuit may be open or the LED may be connected in reverse direction.
Electric current is the flow of electric charge through a conductor. When the battery is connected to the LED, it creates a closed path that allows electrons to move from the negative terminal of the battery through the circuit and back to the positive terminal.
As current flows through the LED, energy is released in the form of light, which allows you to observe that current is present in the circuit.
Only perform this experiment using small batteries. Do not connect LEDs directly to high voltage power sources.