Online simulations of basic electrical circuits on this page serve as an introduction to our collection of thematic units on electric circuits. You’ll discover some of the main components—like batteries and switches—as well as key concepts such as open and closed circuits or short circuits.
Use these first simulations to get familiar with how they work: you can change component values, toggle labels and electrical values on or off, and choose different display modes. Explore freely to better understand how circuits behave in different situations.
What is a basic electric circuit?
The basic electric circuits introduced in this first Thematic Unit consist of just four elements: a DC power source (battery), a light bulb, wires, and a switch. The interactions are intentionally limited to two actions: opening or closing the circuit with the switch, and adjusting the battery voltage.
Battery
The battery provides the energy needed for electric current to flow through the circuit. In these simulations, it acts as a direct current (DC) power source, meaning it pushes electrons in a single, constant direction. You can adjust its voltage to see how it affects the behavior of the other components. It’s the starting point of the electric flow and lets you safely experiment with different voltage levels.
Light bulb
The light bulb acts as a visual indicator of current flow: if it lights up, the circuit is closed and current is flowing; if it stays off, something is blocking the flow. In these simulations, the bulb’s brightness changes with the current intensity, allowing you to intuitively observe how the electrical effect varies depending on the circuit configuration.
Wires
Wires connect the different components and allow current to flow between them. Although they have no resistance in the simulation, their layout is key to closing the circuit or creating situations like short circuits. Manipulating the wires is the most direct way to build, modify, or interrupt the current path.
Switch
The switch lets you open or close the circuit easily. In the simulations, just click on it to change its state. It’s the ideal component to introduce the concept of open and closed circuits, and to observe how a simple break can completely stop the current flow.
Basic Circuit Simulations
Simple circuit with a battery and a bulb
This simulation lets you build the simplest possible circuit: a battery connected to a bulb with two wires. If the circuit is closed, the bulb lights up. If any connection is missing, nothing happens. Try connecting the wires in order and see when the bulb turns on; disconnect one wire and see what changes; or adjust the battery voltage and observe how the bulb’s brightness varies. This simulation is ideal for confirming that current only flows in a closed circuit and that the battery is the source driving that flow.
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Circuit with a switch
This simulation adds a switch to the basic circuit. Now you can open or close the circuit without disconnecting any wires. When the switch is closed, current flows and the bulb lights up. If you open it, the circuit breaks and the bulb goes out. Try toggling the switch and observing the immediate effect on the bulb, change the battery voltage and see if brightness varies when the switch is closed, or leave the circuit open and confirm that no current flows even if everything is connected. This simulation is great for introducing the concept of open and closed circuits in a visual and controlled way.
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Circuit with a short circuit
In this simulation, you can create a short circuit by connecting the two ends of the battery directly with a wire, without any component in between. When you do this, current flows through a very low-resistance path and the battery overheats to the point of catching fire—visually showing the danger of a short circuit. Try closing the switch and see what happens, change the battery voltage to check if the effect intensifies, or open the switch to interrupt the current. This simulation lets you safely observe what happens when a circuit is closed but no load is connected.
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Circuit with two bulbs
This simulation lets you connect two bulbs in series, one after the other, within the same circuit. When you close the switch, current flows through both bulbs before returning to the battery. You’ll see that both light up, but with less brightness than when there’s only one. If you disconnect either bulb, the circuit breaks and both go out. This simulation is useful for exploring how components behave when they share the current along a single path.
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Giants of science
“If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants”
Isaac Newton
James Clerk Maxwell
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Michael Faraday
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Become a giant
Principles of Modeling, Simulations, and Control for Electric Energy Systems
Principles of Electric Circuits | 电路原理
Electrotechnique I
Electromagnetic Compatibility Essentials
