Electricity

Electricity is the flow of electrical power or charge. It is a secondary energy source, which means it is made from a primary energy source that is converted. Electricity is the flow of electrical power or charge. It is a secondary energy source because it is converted from another (primary) source of energy, such as coal, natural gas, oil, nuclear, and renewable sources.

What is electricity?

Electricity is the flow of electrical power or charge. It is a secondary energy source because it is converted from another (primary) source of energy, such as coal, natural gas, oil, nuclear, and renewable sources. Electricity can be made from either renewable or non-renewable energy sources. However, it is neither renewable or non-renewable since it is a secondary source.

How is electricity created?

Everything we touch is made up of matter, and matter is made up tiny "building blocks" of atoms. Within the atoms are even smaller, electrically charged particles called electrons. The movement of the electrons creates electricity. Electrons transmit an electrical charge through solid matter (such as metal) to produce an electrical current. Electricity travels at the speed of light, more than 186,000 miles (299,338 kilometers) per second.

How is electricity moved?

The transformer is used to efficiently transmit electricity over long distances. This makes it possible to supply electricity to homes and businesses located far from an electric generating plant. The electricity produced by a generator travels along cables to a transformer, which changes electricity from low voltage to high voltage. Transmission lines are used to carry the electricity to a substation. Substations have transformers that change the high voltage electricity into lower voltage electricity. From the substation, distribution lines carry the electricity to homes and buildings that require low voltage electricity.

History of electricity

In 1752, Benjamin Franklin flew a kite with a metal key tied to the string during a thunderstorm to prove that lightning was electric. In 1879, American inventor Thomas Edison produced a reliable, long-lasting electric light bulb in his laboratory. By the end of the 1880s, small electrical stations based on Edison's designs were in a number of U.S. cities. But each station was able to power only a few city blocks. In the late-1800s, Nikola Tesla created the transformer to transport electricity over long distances. Tesla's inventions brought electricity to light the inside of our homes and to power industrial machines.

Uses for electricity

In the past, electricity mainly provided light and heat.Now electricity is used in homes, and also to power industry, provide communication and transportation. Home use electricity for heat, light, and power to run appliances and games. Factories power machines with electricity. Communication systems depend on electricity for telephone service, television and radio, and the Internet. Streetcars and subways are also powered by electricity. Airplanes and ships depend on electricity for navigation equipment.

Demand for electricity

Although the current recession is expected to dampen electricity demand
in the near term, electricity demand is expected increase by 77 percent by 2030. (Source: Energy Information Administration / International Energy Outlook 2009. This growth projection is based on population growth and increased supply to currently non-developed countries.

Electricity pros and cons

Pros

• Reliable
• Capable of generating large amounts of power
• Output can be regulated to meet demand
• Clean
• Inexpensive

Cons

• Risk of electric shock

More Electricity resources

Energy Kids Page - Illustrates how hydroelectric energy works, where it is generated, and how it is used.

NASA Sci Files - Electricity experiments and simulations.

Power Kids - Learn how electricity works and its history from Richmond Power and Light.