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    A CLOSED CIRCUIT consists of three elements:

• A SOURCE  of free electrons
• A CONDUCTOR to carry electrons
• A LOAD to change electrical energy to some other form

    A SOURCE of free electrons can consist of any energy form - for example

• MECHANICAL - a generator or piezoelectric crystal
• HEAT - a thermocouple
• LIGHT - a solar cell
• CHEMICAL - a battery

    A CONDUCTOR is any material that contains free electrons in its Valence Shell.  This would include
metals, such as copper, aluminum, steel, etc.

    LOAD

    A LOAD is any device (or process) that will change electrical energy into some other form of
energy.
     For example:
 

• MECHANICAL - a starter motor
• HEAT - a rear window defroster grid
• LIGHT - a headlamp
• CHEMICAL - charging the battery

    An OPEN circuit occurs when part of the conductor is missing.  This can be intentional
(for example - controlling a light with a switch) - or accidental (a broken wire).  This results
in NO electron flow in the circuit.

    A SHORT circuit occurs when the LOAD is bypassed.  Because the LOAD helps to
restrict and control electron flow, this results in an uncontrolled movement of electrons which
causes damage to the CONDUCTOR or the SOURCE due to overheating.