Countdown to the Science STAAR" Series 5 / Page 5 3 1 Which statement about the flow of electricity in a circuit is correct? A Electricity travels in light waves. B The flow of electricity requires an insulator. C. The flow of electricity requires a switch. D The flow of electricity requires a complete circuit. 5.6.E

Electricity travels in a closed loop known as a circuit. This means that for electrical current to flow, it must have a path that returns to its source, creating a complete circuit. Without this complete loop, the current has no pathway, and thus, it cannot flow. A common mistake in understanding circuits is thinking that having just any component will allow electricity to flow. For example, simply placing a light bulb or a battery in the circuit without ensuring it's complete won't cause the light to shine. Always remember that a complete path is crucial for the current to flow!