Stephen was asked to describe how the batteries provide the energy to light up the light globe in this torch.

"Electrons come flowing out from the battery through the wire and into the light globe. There they collide with the atoms of the filament in the globe and cause it to glow. The same electrons that left the battery return to the battery through a wire on the other side of the filament"

Is Stephen right? Explain

Scientists some times refer to a wire as an "electron pipe". A wire in a circuit acts in much the same way as a hose carrying water from a pump to a fountain and back to the pump. You can buy a length of hose from the Hardware store that is empty of water. Can you buy a length of wire that is empty of electrons?

Explain the difference between a hose carrying water from a pump and wire carrying electricity from the Power Station.

The toaster on the left is connected to 240V power outlet. The wires inside the toaster glow red hot when it is switched on. Explain how the electrons are moving through the wire to cause them to heat up.

Do the electrons that move through the wire of the toaster come from the power outlet? Explain.

The image on the left represents a helium atom.

Charges such as protons and electrons move through a wire producing electric current. Is this true? Explain.
Metal atoms hold onto their electrons very strongly and do not allow them to escape. Is this true? Explain.

Click to see 120kb video. The generator is connected to an ammeter. Notice how the needle is deflected as the generator is producing a current. Why is the current produced by a generator known as alternating current(ac)?
Does the current produced by this generator move in a net forward direction through the circuit?

Click to see 120kb movie of how the generator works. The movie shows a generator connected to an LED. What is the generator producing that is causing the LED to glow?
Unlike light globes, LEDs glow only when current flows through the circuit in a particular direction. Why is the LED flashing?