Beatrice Lang
Electricity is the set of physical phenomena associated with the presence and motion of matter possessing an electric charge. The presence of either a positive or negative electric charge produces an electric field. The motion of electric charges is an electric current and produces a magnetic field. The flow of electricity requires a circuit: a closed, never-ending loop of conductive material. Materials that allow the flow of charge are called conductors, and those that do not are called insulators. The flow of negatively charged electrons generates an electric current, and the conventional symbol for current is 'I', which originates from the French phrase 'intensité du courant' (current intensity).
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Electricity is a type of energy that consists of the movement of electrons between two points when there is a potential difference between them, making it possible to generate what is known as an electric current. |
| Flow | Electricity is defined as the flow of electric charge. |
| Charge | Charge is a property of matter. It can be positive or negative and is measurable. |
| Current | Current can consist of any moving charged particles, most commonly electrons. |
| Conductors | Electric current can flow through electrical conductors but will not flow through an electrical insulator. |
| Conventional Current | By historical convention, a positive current is defined as having the same direction of flow as any positive charge it contains, or flowing from the most positive part of a circuit to the most negative part. |
| Static Electricity | Static electricity is a phenomenon in which charged particles are transferred from one body to another. |
| Lightning | Lightning is a form of electricity. |
| Electrostatics | The study of electric fields created by stationary charges. |
| Piezoelectricity | Certain crystals, such as quartz, generate a potential difference across their faces when pressed. |
| Electrorception | Some organisms, such as sharks, can detect and respond to changes in electric fields. |
| Electrogenic | Some organisms can generate voltages to serve as a predatory or defensive weapon. |
| Primary Energy Sources | Electricity is a secondary energy source produced by converting primary sources such as coal, natural gas, nuclear energy, solar energy, and wind energy. |
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What You'll Learn
Stored in a capacitor
In electrical engineering, a capacitor is a device that stores electrical energy. The capacitor was originally known as the condenser, and it is a passive electronic component with two terminals. The utility of a capacitor depends on its capacitance. Capacitors store electrical energy in the form of electrical charge accumulated on their plates.
The capacitor consists of two conductors separated by a non-conductive region. Most capacitors contain at least two electrical conductors, often in the form of metallic plates or surfaces separated by a dielectric medium. The maximum energy that can be stored safely in a capacitor is limited by the breakdown voltage.
The energy stored in a capacitor can be used to represent information, either in binary form (as in DRAMs) or in analogue form (as in analog sampled filters and CCDs). Capacitors are used in various applications, such as audio equipment, uninterruptible power supplies, camera flashes, pulsed loads such as magnetic coils, lasers, and more. They are also used in electric cars, regenerative braking systems in the automotive industry, and industrial electrical motors.
In addition, capacitors are used in medical devices such as defibrillators, where they store electrical energy that can be delivered as a large charge in a short burst to a set of paddles placed across a person's chest during cardiac or ventricular fibrillation. This application of a large shock of electrical energy can terminate the arrhythmia and allow the body's pacemaker to resume normal patterns.
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Produced by power plants
Electricity is produced in power plants through various technologies that use fossil fuels, nuclear fuels, or renewable energy sources. Power plants that burn fuels generally use steam boilers, combustion turbines, or both. Steam boilers burn fuel to heat water and produce steam, which is then channelled through a turbine to turn the blades and generate electricity. This process is similar to that of steam engines but occurs on a much larger scale.
Nuclear power plants, which produce 11% of the world's electricity, create electricity through steam turbines where the heat input is from nuclear fission. Nuclear fuel can be used in a reactor for several years, and a correspondingly small amount of waste is generated. Most nuclear reactors use uranium as a fuel source, and the power from one kilogram of uranium is about the same as one tonne of coal.
Renewable energy sources for electricity production include wind, hydropower, solar power, biomass, and geothermal. Wind turbines use the power of the wind to move the blades of a rotor to power a generator. There are two general types of wind turbines: horizontal axis (the most common) and vertical-axis turbines. Hydroelectric power plants generate electricity by storing water in vast reservoirs behind dams, which then flows through turbines to generate electricity. Solar power plants can use solar thermal energy to heat water and use the steam to drive a turbine, or they can use solar photovoltaic (PV) panels to absorb light energy from the sun, charging electrons to generate electricity.
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Generated by piezoelectricity
Piezoelectricity is a phenomenon where certain materials generate electricity when subjected to mechanical stress, such as pressure or deformation. The word "piezoelectricity" originates from the Greek word "piezein", meaning "to squeeze or press", and "electron", meaning "amber", an ancient source of electric charge. This effect was first discovered in 1880 by French scientists and brothers Jacques and Pierre Curie. They found that applying mechanical pressure to specific crystals like quartz released an electrical charge. This process is known as the piezoelectric effect.
The piezoelectric effect has two main applications: direct and inverse. The direct piezoelectric effect involves placing a piezoelectric crystal between two metal plates, creating a balanced system without an electric current. When mechanical pressure is applied by the plates, the crystal's electric charges become imbalanced, resulting in excess negative and positive charges on opposite sides of the crystal. The metal plates collect these charges, producing a voltage and enabling the flow of an electric current through a circuit. This principle is used in electric cigarette lighters, where pressing a button causes a hammer to strike a piezoelectric crystal, generating a high-voltage electric current that creates a spark.
The inverse piezoelectric effect, on the other hand, converts electrical energy into mechanical energy or sound waves. This is utilised in speakers, where a voltage is applied to a piezoelectric ceramic, causing it to vibrate and produce sound waves. Additionally, the inverse effect is employed in sonar, where sound waves are transmitted through water, bounce off objects, and return to a receiver. The receiver uses the direct piezoelectric effect to convert the sound waves back into electrical voltage, allowing the calculation of the distance to the object.
Piezoelectricity has a wide range of applications beyond spark generation and sonar. It is used in pressure sensors, inkjet printing, and the detection and production of sound. Piezoelectric motors use piezoelectric elements to apply a directional force to an axle, causing it to rotate with high precision. In laser technology, piezoelectric elements are used for laser mirror alignment, allowing precise control over the distance between mirrors to optimise beam output. Piezoelectricity is also used in various electronic devices, such as smartphones, where it transforms the energy of a person's voice into electrical signals that can be transmitted and understood by another device.
Furthermore, piezoelectricity has the potential to revolutionise clean energy. For example, piezoelectric materials can be used in floors to power lighting or in revolving doors to generate electricity. The concept of harvesting human kinetic energy through piezoelectric tiles in streets or pavements has also been explored, converting footsteps into electricity. These innovations could contribute significantly to sustainable energy solutions in the future.
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Conducted by copper wire
Copper wire is a crucial component in the transmission of electricity, serving as a conduit for the flow of electrical energy. This process is often referred to as electrical conduction or the flow of electric current. Copper, with its exceptional conductivity, plays a vital role in ensuring electricity reaches homes, offices, and industries.
When electricity is conducted through copper wire, it involves the movement of electrons within the wire. These electrons flow through the wire, creating an electric current. In a copper wire, there are trillions of electrons moving past any given point in the wire every second. However, the individual movement of each electron is quite slow, and they have to navigate through billions of atoms in the wire. This slow progression of electrons is known as the drift velocity.
The speed at which electricity travels through a copper wire is influenced by several factors, with resistance being the most significant. Resistance occurs when electrons collide with the atoms of the wire, impurity atoms, vacancies, lattice ions, and imperfections. Copper, however, has a unique property of a long mean free path, which is the average distance travelled by electrons between collisions. This long mean free path contributes to copper's superior conductivity.
Copper wire is preferred for electrical conduction due to its high conductivity, durability, and versatility. It is used in a wide range of applications, from residential and commercial buildings to industrial machinery and power generation systems. Copper's malleability allows it to be bent or stretched without breaking, making it ideal for navigating tight spaces in walls and flooring.
Additionally, copper wire offers advantages such as low electrical resistance, reducing energy loss as heat during transmission. It is also sustainable and recyclable, making it an environmentally-friendly choice. Copper's exceptional properties, including its high ductility, tensile strength, and thermal conductivity, further enhance its suitability for various electrical applications.
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Studied as electrostatics
Electrostatics is a branch of physics that deals with the study of stationary electric charges and the forces they exert on each other. It is an important field of study as it helps us understand the behaviour of atoms, molecules, and matter in general. Electrostatics is closely related to electricity and magnetism, and all three are often studied together in physics.
Electrostatics studies electric charges at rest and the forces between them. These charges can be found in our daily lives, from static electricity that makes our hair stand on end to lightning that illuminates the night sky. The behaviour of charged particles and their interactions with electric fields are also studied in electrostatics.
The fundamental laws of electrostatics include Coulomb's law, which states that the force between two electric charges is directly proportional to the product of the charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. Coulomb's law can be represented mathematically as F = k * (q1 * q2)/r^2, where F is the force, q1 and q2 are the charges, r is the distance between them, and k is a constant.
Another important concept in electrostatics is the electrostatic potential, also known as voltage. It is a scalar function that describes the electric field and can be used to calculate the electric potential from a known configuration of charges, conductors, and insulators. Electrostatics also deals with the concept of electrostatic induction, which is the separation of charges due to electric fields.
Electrostatics has many practical applications, including the design and development of electrical systems and devices, as well as the operation of photocopiers and laser printers. It also plays a crucial role in particle accelerators and x-ray machines.
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Frequently asked questions
Electricity conduction is called electrical conduction. It occurs when there is a presence of charged particles. In the case of electricity, the charged particles are electrons.
Electricity generation is called electromechanical generation. It is the process of generating electric power from sources of primary energy. This is done through the use of electromechanical generators, primarily driven by heat engines fueled by combustion or nuclear fission.
Electricity release is called electrical discharge. This phenomenon occurs when electricity is released from a charged object, such as a battery, into a conductive material, such as a wire.
