PARTS AND MATERIALS
Multimeter, digital or analog
Assorted batteries
One light-emitting diode (Radio Shack catalog # 276-026 or equivalent)
Small "hobby" motor, permanent-magnet type (Radio Shack catalog # 273-223 or equivalent)
Two jumper wires with "alligator clip" ends (Radio Shack catalog # 278-1156, 278-1157, or equivalent)
A multimeter is an electrical instrument capable of measuring voltage, current, and resistance. Digital multimeters have numerical displays, like digital clocks, for indicating the quantity of voltage, current, or resistance. Analog multimeters indicate these quantities by means of a moving pointer over a printed scale.
Analog multimeters tend to be less expensive than digital multimeters, and more beneficial as learning tools for the first-time student of electricity. I strongly recommend purchasing an analog multimeter before purchasing a digital multimeter, but to eventually have both in your tool kit for these experiments.