[Avodah] How do you explain issur of electricity (boneh) to a non-religious person?

[Liron Kopinsky]

>So how do I explain the issur of electricity (boneh) Truth is I do not know
enough about circuits<
The basic way electricity works is that you have a power source (say a
battery) with a + and - side to it. That electricity remains contained in
the power source until you connect those two points.
When a house is wired, you  have the power source from the power station
with a circuit containing a lightbulb in it as well as a switch in it. When
the circuit is complete, the connection from the + to the - is completed,
and electricity runs through the lighbulb making it turn on. Flipping that
switch, closes the circuit, which "builds" a complete circuit.

http://unemployedforgood.com/lirons_blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/LightBulbCircuit.jpg

>And if one could create a type of device that is not boneh, does that mean
some lights could be turned on during Shabbat<
Theoretically yes - and some have made "kosher for shabbos" cars and
microphones using some techniques here, but they are not always smiled upon.
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