The electric cell provides power to the torch bulb. Alarm clocks, wristwatches, transistor radios, cameras, and a variety of other gadgets employ electric cells. Have you ever taken a close look at an electric cell? You may have observed that one side has a small metal cap, and the other side has a metal disc.
A metal cap represents the positive terminal of the electric cell. The metal disc represents the negative terminal. All electric cells have two terminals, one positive and one negative.
The chemicals held inside an electric cell generate electricity. When the chemicals in the electric cell are depleted, the cell shuts off, generating electricity. After that, the electric cell must be replaced. A torch bulb features a glass outer shell that is attached to a metallic base.
The positive terminal of an electric cell is typically referred to as the side with the metal cap, while the negative terminal is referred to as the other side. A variety of chemicals are placed inside an electric cell, which is used to generate electricity. Once all of the chemicals inside an electric cell have been utilised, the cell is no longer functioning. Electric cells of various designs are manufactured by several firms.

An electric circuit is a closed conduit that allows electrons or electric current to flow continuously from a voltage or current source to the equipment being utilised. Current is stated to flow in a circuit from one terminal of a power source, such as a cell, to another terminal. In general, the initial terminal is considered positive, and the ending terminal is considered negative. A basic circuit is a bulb connected to a battery by two wires so that the bulb begins to glow if the battery is not dead and the bulb is not fused.

When you connect an electric cell to an electric bulb, both cell terminals are connected to the bulb. An electric circuit is a configuration in which both terminals of an electric cell are linked to any terminals of electric equipment, allowing current to flow through the circuit. Only when the circuit is complete can electricity flow. The flow of current is said to begin from an electric cell's positive terminals to its negative terminals.

A circuit diagram is a representation of a channel of current flow or a circuit using various symbols and notation for distinct components.

Open and Closed Circuits: 

When the path traversed by the electric current from one terminal to its other terminal is unbroken and continuous, it is called a closed circuit; when the same path is broken anywhere along the path, it is called an open circuit.

1. Wires: These are the electrical conductors used to link two or more electrical components and allow current to flow. Wires are typically formed of metals that are good conductors of electricity, and the type of metal and wire dimension are chosen based on the use.

2. Bulb: A glass casing containing a filament attached to two terminals that heats up and generates light when an electric current passes through it. In most cases, the filament wire is composed of coiled tungsten wire. The filament receives power from the two terminals between which it is connected.

Similar to an electric cell, an electric bulb has two terminals. An electric bulb has a glass outer covering that is attached to a metallic base. The filament is the tiny wire in the centre of an electric bulb. The filament is then linked to two stout wires for support and circuit completion. The circuit is completed by connecting a light bulb to an electric cell, which causes the light bulb to glow.

One of the thick wires is attached to the centre of the metallic base, while the other is connected to the metallic base's lowermost point. These two connections also serve as the two terminals of an electric light bulb.

An electric torch with connecting cables, a battery, and an LED (Light Emitting Diode) bulb combines the above components.

3. Electric Cell or Dry Cell: A device that stores chemical energy and turns it into electrical energy that can be used for a variety of applications. It has two terminals, one positive and the other negative. Charges flow from the negative terminal to the positive terminal within a cell, whereas the opposite occurs outside the cell.

The positive terminal of an electric cell is typically referred to as the side with the metal cap, while the negative terminal is referred to as the other side. A variety of chemicals are placed inside an electric cell, which is used to generate electricity. Once all of the chemicals inside an electric cell have been utilised, the cell is no longer functioning. Electric cells of various designs are manufactured by several firms. Some electric cells have both positive (+) and negative (-) markings.

4. Battery: A battery is made up of two or more cells connected in a series manner.

5. Switch: A switch is a simple device that allows or restricts the continuous passage of electricity in an electrical circuit. When switched on, it fills the gap in a circuit with a conducting medium, making the circuit work, and when turned off, it breaks the circuit by removing the conducting medium from the gap.

Electrical conductors are materials that allow electricity to pass through them. All of the metals are excellent electrical conductors. Only carbon can carry electricity among nonmetals, as demonstrated by connecting wires across the two ends of a pencil.

Insulators are materials that prevent electric current from passing through them. Glass, oil, quartz, rubber, air, and other frequent insulators include: Insulators are equally significant to humanity because they aid in the production of the outer covering of various electric equipment. It would have been quite difficult to handle the conductors we would have been exposed to without insulators.

Why did we utilise a safety pin to build an electric switch in the preceding section? Because a safety pin is a conductor, current can flow through it. Electric conductors and insulators each have their own set of electric properties. Conductors are materials that allow current to flow through them. Conductors are used in the manufacture of electric wires, the inside of electrical equipment, and so on.

Electricity Effects: 

The flow of an electric current through a material is accompanied by a number of secondary effects that are occasionally utilised for other purposes or cause energy losses. The following are some of the effects:

• Heating Effect: This effect is used in electric heaters, ovens, and other similar devices.
• An electric bulb is a good example of a lighting effect.
• Electromagnets use the magnetic effect.

We learned about electricity and circuits in this chapter. We also comprehended electrical components such as a switch, bulb, and so on. Learning about electric components, such as insulators and conductors, will help us use electricity safely in our daily lives. You can also participate in the activities listed in this chapter to learn more about 'Electricity and Circuits.'