The following is a schematic diagram of a lamp brightness control. Lamp used is a light tube with a voltage 3V. You can replace the lamp with other lamp types, such as LEDs.

How the circuit works:
IC1 works to generate 150Hz square wave which having a variable duty-cycle. When potensiometer P1 is fully rotated towards D1, the output positive pulses appearing at pin 3 of IC1 are very narrow. Lamp LP1, driven by Q1, is off as the voltage across its leads is too low. When potensiometer P1 is rotated towards R2, the output pulses increase in width, reaching their maximum amplitude when the potentiometer is rotated fully clockwise. In this way the lamp reaches its full brightness.

This  power inverter uses only 9 electronic components. This inverter circuit will turn 10 to 16VDC into 115V / 60Hz square wave AC power. It was able to operate AC equipment up to 25W.

The first section of the 555 timer is wires as an astable oscillator with R2 and C1 setting the frequency. The output is available at pin 5. The second section is wired as a phase inverter. That output is available at pin 9. Resistor R3 and R4 keep output transistor Q1 and Q2 from loading down the oscillator.

Read more about 25W Inverter circuit

This is the explanation about “Voltage”

Voltage is commonly used as a short name for electrical potential difference. Its corresponding SI unit is the volt (not italicized). Electric potential is a hypothetically measurable physical dimension, and is denoted by the algebraic variable V (italicized )

The voltage between two (electron) positions “A” and “B”, inside a solid electrical conductor (or inside two electrically-connected, solid electrical conductors), is denoted by (V_A − V_B). This voltage is the electrical driving force that drives a conventional electric current in the direction A to B. Voltage can be directly measured by an “ideal voltmeter”. Well-constructed, correctly used, real voltmeters approximate very well to ideal voltmeters. For non-scientists, an analogy involving the flow of water is sometimes helpful in understanding the concept of voltage (see below).

Precise modern and historic definitions of voltage exist, but (due to the development of the electron theory of metal conduction in the period 1897 to 1933, and to developments in theoretical surface science from about 1910 to about 1950, particularly the theory of local work function) some older definitions are not now regarded as strictly correct. This is because they neglect the existence of “chemical” effects and surface effects. A particular lesson from surface science is that, to get consistency and universality, formal definitions must relate to positions or (better) electron states inside conductors.

Here the simple LED flasher circuit that you can use for your simple project.

schematic diagram:

component part list: