Controlling Current> A drawbridge is a bridge that can move up or down. When the bridge is down, traffic can cross to the other side. When the bridge is up, all traffic has to stop.
Electric switches are like drawbridges for electric current. When the switch is “down,” or connected to the wire, current can flow. When the switch is “up,” it leaves a gap between wires. Current can’t cross the gap to the other side. So it stops.
A light switch is one common example. Flip it “on” to connect the switch to the wire. Current can flow and the bulb can light. Flip the switch “off,” and it leaves a gap in the wire. Current stops, and the bulb stops lighting.
Single on/off switches aren’t the only way to take charge of a charge. Electricians use many different kinds of switches. In the ElectroLoft, you can experiment with a lot of these different switches.
