Electricity and Water

Print this page out and try the experiment. Click on the 'Back' button to go back to Electrical Safety World.

Ask an adult to help you with this experiment.

Teamwork
Do you think the bulb in this circuit will light? Discuss it first, then set up the circuit. Put plenty of salt in the water. Then add another battery or two and see what happens.

Write your observations here:

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In this experiment, we added salt to the water to make the bulb light. When a source of electricity has higher voltage than your D batteries, the electricity will travel through water with or without salt in it. So, if lightning struck a lake, or a blow dryer fell in the sink, electricity would travel through the water. Anyone touching that water could be electrocuted. (Electrocution means fatal contact with electricity.)

Going Further
Create a television spot or radio announcement that warns people about electrical hazards during storms and floods. You may target your announcement at children or adults. If it goes on the air, contact your local utility first to be sure it is accurate.