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Requirements for an Electric Circuit:
In order to establish an electric circuit through which charge flows, it is necessary to meet the following two requirements:
- There must be a closed conducting path that extends from the positive terminal to the negative terminal.
- There must be a source of energy capable of doing work upon an electric charge to move the charge from the low energy terminal to the high energy terminal.
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In order to light the light bulb, electric charge must flow through it. That is, the light bulb must be part of a circuit powered by the battery. To be part of a circuit, there must be a complete conducting loop from the positive terminal to the negative terminal. The light bulb must be part of the loop. The loop will be completed by the wire. Charge can enter the bottom base of the bulb and exit the ribbed side or vice versa. If a complete conducting loop from positive terminal to negative terminal is maintained, then a circuit will be established. The battery will continue to pump charge through the light bulb.
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Make sure that the positive and the negative terminal of the battery are connected by a combination of the light bulb and the wire. And finally, make sure that the light bulb and wire are arranged such that the bottom base of the bulb is in contact with the battery and the ribbed side is touched by a wire (or vice versa).
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