How does an LED matrix work?

Question

I've wired up a 3x3 matrix as in the attached image. My understanding is that if I apply 3.3 volts to row C and connect column 1 to ground, the electricity should flow through the bottom-left LED (as in the top-right of the image), turning it on. What seems to be happening, though, is that the electricity bypasses the LED and flows directly to the ground, meaning no LEDs light up (as in the bottom part of the image). This makes sense to me since electricity usually follows the path of least resistance. But everything I am reading online seems to indicate that what I am trying should light up the LED. What am I missing here?

I should also note that I have a 100 ohm resistor at the beginning of each row.

Answer 1

In your actual circuit, have you connected the wires and the LED leads at the junctions indicated by the black circles, or have you connected them wherever the lines overlap in your schematic diagram?

The correct reading of the schematic is to only have connections where indicated by the junction indicators (black filled circles). If you do so, then the third scenario in your diagram does not exist - the wires going horizontally and vertically do not actually touch at all.

One way to visualize this: The horizontal wires are all on the plane of your work table, the vertical wires are all in a plane floating an inch above the table, and the LEDs are the only connections between these two sets, and the only connections are the black circles.

You are correct, electricity will follow a path of least resistance to the greatest extent. In the schematic, there is no path of least resistance, i.e. short-circuit, between row and column wires, since no junctions are indicated. If you have interconnected the row and column wires, disconnect them now. Then, as you will see, the only path that allows electricity flow is through the respective diode / LED.