Otis Singleton
Electricity is a natural phenomenon that occurs in nature and takes many forms. It is defined as the flow of electric charge, which is measurable and can be positive or negative. The three most basic units in electricity are voltage (V), current (I), and resistance (R). Voltage is measured in volts, current in amps, and resistance in ohms. Amps, or amperes, are named after French physicist André-Marie Ampère, who is considered one of the fathers of electromagnetism. Amps can be measured using an ammeter, which is always connected in series with the circuit being tested.
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What You'll Learn
A fundamental form of energy
Energy is defined as the ability of an object to do work on another object, which involves moving that object some distance. Energy comes in many forms, some visible, like mechanical energy, and others invisible, like chemical or electrical energy.
There are two fundamental forms of energy: kinetic energy and potential energy. Kinetic energy is energy in movement and includes electrical energy, heat, light, and sound. An object has kinetic energy when it is in motion, and the amount of kinetic energy an object has depends on its mass and speed.
Potential energy, on the other hand, is stored energy when an object is at rest. Examples of potential energy include chemical, gravitational, mechanical, and nuclear energy. Chemical energy, for instance, is stored in the bonds of atoms and molecules, and can be converted to thermal energy when burning wood or gasoline. Gravitational energy, meanwhile, is energy stored in an object's height, and can be converted to kinetic energy, as when a bicycle picks up speed going down a steep hill.
Electrical energy, a form of kinetic energy, is delivered by tiny charged particles called electrons, which typically move through a wire. Electricity is a secondary energy source, produced by converting primary sources of energy, such as coal, natural gas, or solar energy, into electrical power. Electricity is also an energy carrier, meaning it can be converted into other forms of energy, such as mechanical energy or heat.
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Naturally occurring
There are two types of electric current: direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC). Direct current is a unidirectional flow of electric charge, where the voltage is constant and electricity flows in a certain direction. This is the type of current obtained from batteries, solar cells, and so on. Alternating current, on the other hand, is produced by electric generators and periodically changes direction. The voltage in AC circuits also periodically switches from positive to negative and back, causing the direction of the current to change accordingly.
Direct current is commonly used in electronics projects and parts, as well as in devices that run on batteries, such as mobile phones, flashlights, and electric vehicles. It is also used to charge batteries. Alternating current, however, is the standard for home and office outlets, as it is easier to generate and transmit over long distances. AC is also used to power electric motors in appliances such as refrigerators, washing machines, and dishwashers.
While direct current may be easier to understand, alternating current offers certain advantages. For instance, AC can be easily converted to and from high voltages using transformers, resulting in reduced power loss during transmission. This makes AC a more cost-effective option for transmitting electricity across long distances. Additionally, AC allows for the conversion of voltage levels using a single component, making it a versatile choice.
Despite these advantages, direct current has its merits as well. In direct current, the voltage and direction of the current remain constant, resulting in consistent behaviour of capacitors and coils. Consequently, there is no advance or delay in the circuit, which is not the case with alternating current.
In nature, direct current can be observed in some biological systems, such as the electric eels and electric rays that produce their own electric fields for navigation and defence. These organisms have specialized electric organs that generate a direct current, allowing them to create electric fields for sensing their environment and even stunning their prey.
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Artificially produced
The generation of electricity is a critical area of research, as traditional methods of producing electricity are unsustainable and contribute to the planet's degradation. One promising development in artificially producing electricity is the creation of an artificial metabolic pathway that uses electricity to produce ATP, a biochemical energy carrier. This breakthrough was achieved by researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology in Marburg, led by Tobias Erb. Their work focuses on synthetic biology and using artificial photosynthesis to convert carbon dioxide into valuable resources like antibiotics, biofuels, starch, and proteins.
The artificial metabolic pathway, known as the "AAA cycle," involves an enzyme cascade consisting of four biocatalysts. The first and main enzyme, aldehyde ferredoxin oxidoreductase (AOR), reduces an acid to an aldehyde, storing electrical energy in the aldehyde bond. The remaining three enzymes are responsible for regenerating the aldehyde, a process that releases energy used to generate ATP. This ATP can then be used to power chemical reactions, such as the production of glucose-6-phosphate, a building block for starch, and protein synthesis.
While this development does not directly address the challenge of powering the human body with electricity, it offers a novel approach towards a sustainable, climate-neutral bioeconomy. Other areas of exploration in artificially producing electricity include solar sails, such as Japan's IKAROS spacecraft, which utilizes solar-sailing as its main form of propulsion. Additionally, a team at the University of Massachusetts Amherst has developed "Air-gen," a device that uses electrically conductive protein-based nanowires to generate electricity from the moisture in the air.
The quest for alternative power sources has also led to innovative recycling systems, such as the SFD Recycling System in Japan, which converts used diapers into biomass pellets for energy generation. Furthermore, piezoelectric harvesting technologies are being employed in underground stations, nightclubs, and gyms to harness the kinetic energy generated from human activities. While the direct use of electricity to power the human body remains elusive, advancements in nanotechnology and prosthetics may lead to electrical power being used in specific applications, such as powering artificial organs or nanobots for glucose metabolism.
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Electric power
The wide-scale production and distribution of electric power were made possible by the development of the electric generator, a device that operates on the basis of the induction principle formulated in 1831 by the English scientist Michael Faraday and, independently, by the American scientist Joseph Henry. The first public power station opened in London in 1882, using a DC system.
The watt became a unit of power in the International System of Units (SI) in 1960. It is named after James Watt, the Scottish engineer who popularised the steam engine. The watt is now used universally to measure power in fields ranging from electricity to mechanical systems.
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Electric current
The flow of electrons inside a conducting material or conductor generates an electric current. The force required to drive the current flow through the conductor is known as voltage, which is measured in volts. Volts measure the potential for energy to travel, and the speed of individual electrons as they move through a circuit. The faster each electron moves through the circuit, and the greater the volume that the circuit can hold, the higher the wattage. Wattage is measured in units called watts.
In alternating current (AC) systems, the movement of electric charge periodically reverses direction. AC is the form of electric power most commonly delivered to businesses and residences. In contrast, direct current (DC) refers to a system in which the movement of electric charge is in one direction only. Direct current is produced by sources such as batteries, solar cells, and certain electric machines.
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Frequently asked questions
Electricity is a fundamental form of energy that occurs naturally, such as lightning, or is produced by generators. It is expressed in terms of the movement and interaction of electrons.
The three most basic units in electricity are voltage (V), current (I, uppercase "i"), and resistance (R). Voltage is measured in volts, current in amps, and resistance in ohms.
An ampere, often shortened to amp, is the unit of electric current. It is the rate at which current is flowing through a circuit or the number of electrons moving through a wire. The unit is named after French physicist André-Marie Ampère.
