In order to ring the bell first of all we press the push button switch in order to ring the bell. So, when we press the switch, then the electric circuit of the bell is completed and a current passes through the coil of the electromagnet and it gets magnetised. The electromagnet attracts the iron armature towards itself. So, as the armature moves towards the poles of the electromagnet, the clapper attached to it strikes the gong and produces a ringing sound. It implies that the bell rings. When the armature moves towards the magnet, its contact with the contact screw is broken. Due to this, the electric circuit breaks and no current flows in the electromagnet coil. The electromagnet loses its magnetism for a moment and the armature is no longer attracted by it. The flat spring brings back the iron armature to its original position and the clapper also moves away from the gong.

As soon as the armature comes back and touches the contact screw the circuit is completed and current starts flowing in the electromagnet coil again. The electromagnet attracts the iron armature once again and the clapper strikes the gong again producing a ringing sound. So, this process of 'make and break' of the electric circuit continues as long as we are pressing the switch. Due to this, the armature vibrates forwards and backwards rapidly each time making the clapper strike the gong. Thus, the clapper strikes the gong rapidly producing almost continuous sound.