Fifth Grade Science Fair Project on Making Electricity With a Battery to Light a Bulb

Gather Your Materials

• There are two simple experiments with a light bulb and battery that demonstrate basic electrical principles. You will need a small light bulb (preferably from a flashlight), a "D" sized battery, about 6 inches of insulated copper wire, wire strippers, aluminum foil, transparent tape and scissors. All experiments should be supervised by an adult.

Wiring the Bulb

• Strip about 1/2-inch of insulation off each end of the copper wiring. Wire strippers can be tricky to work with so adults should supervise. Tape one end of the exposed copper wire to the negative (flat) site of the "D" battery, then tape the other end to the metal part of the light bulb. Touch the base of the light bulb to the positive side of the battery and the bulb should light up.

What the Wire Demonstrates

• This simple experiment demonstrates how electricity moves in a circuit. The power will only move if it can "flow," which it can when the bulb touches the positive end of the battery. This action completes the circuit. The circuit is broken when the base of the bulb is moved away from the battery, in which case the light bulb goes off. This is because electricity will not move from its power source if it cannot flow.

Aluminum Foil

• Another experiment fifth graders can do with a light bulb and a battery involves aluminum foil. The foil will essentially take the place of the wire. Cut a strip of foil about 6-inches long and 1/2-inch wide, then touch one end of it to the bottom of the battery. Touch the other end of the foil to the metal base of the bulb, then touch the bottom of the bulb's base to the top of the battery. The bulb should light up just as it does with the copper wiring.

What the Foil Demonstrates

• The aluminum foil experiment demonstrates the principle of conductivity. Electricity moves easiest through materials that are good "conductors," which are usually different types of metals. The light would not turn on if you used plastic or paper instead of aluminum. That is because those are "insulators," meaning that electricity cannot move easily, if at all, through them.