What is electricity? Electricity is the flow of charge around a circuit carrying energy from the battery (or power supply) to components such as lamps and motors. Electricity can flow only if there is a complete circuit from the battery through wires to components and back to the battery again. The diagram shows a simple circuit of a battery, wires, a switch and a lamp. The switch works by breaking the circuit. With the switch open the circuit is broken - so electricity cannot flow and the lamp is off. With the switch closed the circuit is complete - allowing electricity to flow and the lamp is on. The electricity is carrying energy from the battery to the lamp. We can see, hear or feel the effects of electricity flowing such as a lamp lighting, a bell ringing, or a motor turning - but we cannot see the electricity itself, so which way is it flowing? Imaginary positive particles moving in the direction of the conventi...