About Volt Vault

Solve circuit puzzles with Ohm's law in this free online electricity game about current, resistance, series and parallel wiring for physics class.

Volt Vault is an electric circuits game where every surge you route models real DC circuit behavior. A battery supplies voltage, wire tiles carry current to loads like bulbs and motors, and components such as resistors, diodes, capacitors and fuses shape how that current flows. If a path dead-ends you have built an open circuit and the charge simply stops.

Ohm's law sits at the heart of the scoring: current equals voltage divided by resistance, or I = V / R. Series resistances add up along a single path, which is why dropping a resistor in line protects a sensitive LED from a big battery. Tee junctions create parallel branches, and each branch carries its own current computed from its own resistance. A nearly empty path to the ground rail is a short circuit: almost no resistance means huge current, which is exactly how real electrical fires start.

Engineers use these same rules to design everything from phone chargers to power grids. Fuses and circuit breakers are sacrificial safety links that open the circuit before wiring overheats. Diodes enforce one-way flow in chargers and radios, while capacitors store charge to smooth out surges. Learning to balance voltage, current and resistance is the foundation of all electronics.

Key Science Concepts

• Ohm's law: I = V / R
• Series resistance adds along a path
• Parallel branches split current
• Open, closed and short circuits
• Fuses and breakers as safety devices

What You'll Learn

• How voltage, current and resistance relate
• Why loads need matched current ratings
• How one-way and sacrificial components protect circuits

Grade Level: Middle School, High School

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How to play

1. Rotate & Route Tap wire tiles to spin them and lay a copper path from the battery to each load.
2. Place Parts Drag resistors, diodes and fuses from the parts dock onto empty or spare cells.
3. Match the Current Readout shows volts, ohms and amps. Keep amps inside each load's rating or it burns out.
4. Split Branches Tee junctions split the surge into parallel branches. Each branch carries its own current.
5. Fuse & Breaker Fuses absorb one short or burnout. Tap the integrity gauge to trip the breaker mid-surge.
6. Survive Surges Discharge early for a bonus, power every load and keep integrity above zero.

Frequently asked questions

Is Volt Vault free to play?

Yes. Volt Vault is completely free to play in your browser. There is no download, install or account needed.

What grade level is Volt Vault for?

Volt Vault is designed for Middle School, High School students and works well as a classroom activity or homework.

Does Volt Vault work on phones and tablets?

Yes. Volt Vault runs in any modern browser on desktop computers, Chromebooks, tablets and phones in landscape mode.

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