Tell us about Bad Energy
Build and test simple battery circuits with bulbs and switches to observe wasted "bad" energy from leaving devices on, learning energy-saving habits.
Step-by-step guide to Tell us about Bad Energy
Step 1
Lay out all materials on a clear table so you can see everything.
Step 2
Put one AA battery into the first battery holder.
Step 3
Clip a wire from the positive terminal of the first battery holder to the metal terminal of Bulb A.
Step 4
Clip a wire from the other metal terminal of Bulb A to one terminal of Switch A.
Step 5
Clip a wire from the other terminal of Switch A back to the negative terminal of the first battery holder to finish Circuit A.
Step 6
Put the second AA battery into the second battery holder.
Step 7
Clip a wire from the positive terminal of the second battery holder to the metal terminal of Bulb B.
Step 8
Clip a wire from the other metal terminal of Bulb B to one terminal of Switch B.
Step 9
Clip a wire from the other terminal of Switch B back to the negative terminal of the second battery holder to finish Circuit B.
Step 10
Turn ON Switch A and start the timer so Circuit A stays ON continuously for 10 minutes.
Step 11
During the same 10 minutes press Switch B only for 5 seconds every 2 minutes so Circuit B is used briefly and not left on.
Step 12
After 10 minutes turn OFF both switches.
Step 13
Look at both bulbs and tell which one looked brighter during the test and which battery felt warmer to show wasted "bad" energy.
Step 14
Share a photo and your notes about what you learned and your energy-saving habit idea on DIY.org.
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
What can I use if I don't have battery holders or wire clips?
If you don't have battery holders, an adult can securely tape an AA battery to alligator-clip leads and attach the clips to the battery's positive and negative ends so you can follow steps 2–4 and 6–8.
Why won't Bulb A or B light up during the test?
Check that each AA battery is inserted with the correct polarity in its holder, all wire clips are firmly attached to the metal terminals of Bulb A/B and the switches as shown in steps 2–9, and replace weak batteries if the bulb still doesn't light.
How can I adapt this activity for younger or older kids?
For younger children, have an adult set up the battery holders, bulbs, and switches from steps 1–9 and let the child operate the switches and timer, while older kids can add a thermometer to measure battery warmth in step 11 or use a multimeter to record voltage and current during the 10-minute test.
How can we extend or personalize the experiment to learn more about 'bad' energy?
After finishing steps 10–11, try comparing results with rechargeable AA batteries, different bulb types (LED vs incandescent), or add a multimeter to measure which circuit used more current and then photograph and label your findings for DIY.org as suggested in step 12.
Watch videos on how to Tell us about Bad Energy
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Facts about basic circuits and energy conservation
⚡ A simple open switch breaks the circuit and stops current instantly—turning things off is the easiest way to stop waste.
🔌 'Phantom' or standby power (devices plugged in but off) can add up and make up a surprising slice of home electricity use.
💡 A single incandescent bulb wastes a lot of energy compared to modern LEDs—LEDs use up to about 80% less energy than old bulbs.
🔋 Batteries slowly lose charge even when not in use (self-discharge); some rechargeable cells can lose around 10–20% in the first month.
🌍 If many people swap one old bulb for an LED and unplug unused devices, the collective savings across a town or country are huge.
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