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Turn the knob further, and the foil moves past one of the contacts to break the circuit . . . the switch is “off.”

To connect the switch to other. components, simply loop the interconnecting wires underneath the screws that hold the contacts in place.

Just about the simplest possible electric circuit is shown in the second diagram. It consists of a switch, a lightbulb (held in a socket), and a battery. Observe how the switch controls the current flowing through the circuit and turns the light on and off.

Mount the contact strips on the base with short wood screws. The upward-pointing legs of the “Ls” should press gently against the spool like bookends against a book. The top of each leg should press gently against the spool’s middle. Observe the action of the switch. As you rotate the knob, the metal foil comes in contact with both contacts . . . at this point the switch is “on.”