All worksheets / Electricity
Edition 2026Active Merit Badge
Electricity
Official Requirements & Fillable Workbook · 2026 Edition
Electricity explores the physical forces and systems that power modern society. You will learn essential electrical emergency response protocols, conduct a home electrical safety audit, construct an electromagnet, diagram how batteries and electric bells work, calculate circuit loads and prevent overloads, read electric meters and bills, wire circuits and switches, and explore careers across the electrical industry.
Key Requirements Covered:
- Electrical Safety & Shock Prevention
- Ohm’s Law, Voltage, Current & Resistance
- Series & Parallel Circuit Construction
- Residential Wiring, Breakers & Transformers
11Printable Pages
11Requirements
2025Reqs Revised
What is on the worksheet: Electricity Requirements
Every requirement for the Electricity merit badge, word for word as published, with room to write under each one on the printed worksheet.
1Electrical Emergency Response
Demonstrate that you know how to respond to electrical emergencies by doing the following:
- a Explain how to turn off power for a particular circuit and the whole house in the event of an emergency.
- b Demonstrate how to rescue a person touching a live wire in the home.
- c Describe how to safely get out of a car in an accident if you suspect a utility wire is on the car.
- d Show how to render first aid to a person who is unconscious from an apparent electrical shock.
- e Show how to treat an electrical burn.
- f Explain what to do in the event of an electrical fire.
- g Explain what to do if caught out in the open during an electrical storm.
2Home Electrical Safety Inspection
Complete an electrical home safety inspection of your home, using the checklist found in the Electricity merit badge pamphlet or one approved by your counselor. Discuss what you find with your counselor.
3Simple Electromagnet
Make a simple electromagnet and use it to show magnetic attraction and repulsion.
4AC vs. DC and Electricity Generation
Do the following:
- a Explain the difference between direct current and alternating current, the advantages and disadvantages of each, and give a practical example of the use of each type.
- b Explain three ways that electricity is produced.
5Battery and Electric Bell Diagram
Make a simple drawing to show how a battery and an electric bell work. Describe the purpose of each of the components.
6Circuit Overloads, Fuses, and Breakers
Do the following:
- a Define what overloading an electric circuit means. Tell what you have done to make sure your home circuits are not overloaded.
- b Determine if there is an overload on a branch circuit by either getting the current draw from all the equipment plugged into the circuit or use the power equation to calculate the current draws.
- c Explain why a fuse blows and a circuit breaker trips.
- d Tell how to find a blown fuse and a tripped circuit breaker in your home. Show how to safely reset the circuit breaker.
7Room Floor Plan Wiring Diagram
Make a floor plan wiring diagram of the lights, switches, and outlets for a room in your home. Show which fuse or circuit breaker protects each one.
8Electric Meter, Bill Calculations, and Conservation
Do the following:
- a Read a meter associated with an electric bill. Determine the total power used since the bill, and the cost of that power.
- b Explain other charges on the bill that were taxes or fees.
- c Discuss with your counselor five ways your family can conserve energy.
9Electrical Concepts and Equipment
Explain the following:
- a Electrical terms: current, energy, power, resistance, and voltage
- b Units of measure: ampere (amps), ohms, volts, watts, and watt-hours
- c Electrical conditions: generating source with example, ground, open circuit, overvoltage, potential difference, and short circuit
- d Equipment and their use: circuit, conductor, Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI), insulator, inverter, rectifier, rheostat, substation, surge protection, solar panel, transformer, transmission and distribution systems, and wind turbine.
10Hands-On Electrical Projects
Do TWO of the following:
- a Connect a buzzer, bell, or light with a battery. Have a key or switch in the line.
- b Make and run a simple electric motor (from a kit is acceptable, if approved by your counselor ahead of time).
- c Build a simple rheostat. Show that it works.
- d Build a single-pole, double-throw switch. Show that it works.
- e Explain how 3-way switch wiring works in a lighting circuit.
- f Connect two lights together in a series circuit along with a battery and a switch. Then connect the same circuit in parallel. Discuss the differences in the two circuits.
11Careers
Identify three career opportunities that would use skills and knowledge in electricity. Pick one and research the training, education, certification requirements, experience, and expenses associated with entering the field. Research the prospects for employment, starting salary, advancement opportunities and career goals associated with this career. Discuss what you learned with your counselor and whether you might be interested in this career.
Two dates, two different things
Requirements Revision vs. Worksheet Date
Scouting America last revised the Electricity requirements in 2025. That is the badge, not this sheet — an older year does not mean the worksheet is out of date.
Verbatim Fidelity & Verification
This worksheet was checked against https://www.scouting.org/merit-badges/electricity/ in Aug 2026 and reproduces the requirements word for word. Both dates are printed on the sheet, so a copy in a binder can always be placed in time.
Requirement text is © Scouting America, reproduced verbatim. The worksheet layout and design are original to this project.
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