Otis Singleton
Electricity is a set of phenomena associated with the presence and motion of matter possessing an electric charge. It is related to magnetism, and both are part of the phenomenon of electromagnetism. Electricity is all around us, from lightning storms to the static electricity that makes our hair stand up. Our bodies also use electricity to send messages to our muscles. Electricity in nature is also observed in animals, such as the electric eel, and in the Earth's core, where huge electric currents are generated from the spin of the Earth's iron core.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Sources of electricity in nature | Electric eels, lightning, the sun's magnetic field |
| Lightning | Electrons moving from one cloud to another or electrons jumping from a cloud to the ground |
| Static electricity | A stream of electrons that jump from one object to another |
| Electricity in nature powers | Northern lights or Aurora Borealis in the Northern hemisphere and the Southern lights or Aurora Australis in the Southern hemisphere |
| Electricity in nature disrupts | Power transmission systems, satellites, radio communications, cellular phones, VHF television broadcasts, short-wave communications, natural gas and oil pipelines |
| Electricity is produced by | Conversion of other sources of energy such as coal, natural gas, oil, nuclear power, etc. |
| Electricity is generated by | Electromechanical generators, driven by heat engines fueled by combustion or nuclear fission, or by other means such as the kinetic energy of flowing water and wind |
| Electricity generation by power plants | Fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas, and oil; nuclear power; hydroelectricity; renewable sources |
| Electricity generation by renewable sources | Hydro, wind, solar, geothermal |
| Electricity generation by nuclear power | Nuclear fuel can be used in a reactor for several years, with low waste generation |
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What You'll Learn
Lightning and the Northern Lights
Lightning is a natural phenomenon consisting of electrostatic discharges between two electrically charged regions in the atmosphere. One or both of these regions can be within a cloud, or on the ground. Lightning involves a near-instantaneous release of energy, heating the surrounding air to temperatures of about 30,000 °C (54,000 °F). This release of energy emits electromagnetic radiation, some of which is visible as a bright flash. Lightning also causes thunder, a sound from the shock wave which develops as heated gases in the vicinity of the discharge experience a sudden increase in pressure.
There are three primary forms of lightning: Intra-cloud (IC) or in-cloud, which occurs within a single thundercloud; Cloud-to-cloud (CC), which occurs between two clouds; and Cloud-to-ground (CG), which occurs between a cloud and the ground and is referred to as a lightning strike. CG lightning is the least common, but the best understood of all types of lightning. It is easier to study scientifically because it occurs on a physical object, the ground, and lends itself to being measured by instruments on the ground.
Positive lightning strikes tend to be much more intense than their negative counterparts. An average bolt of negative lightning creates an electric current of 30,000 amperes (30 kA), transferring a total of 1 gigajoule of energy. Large bolts of positive lightning can create up to 120 kA and transfer 350 coulombs. Positive lightning strikes are considerably more dangerous than negative strikes due to their greater power.
The Northern Lights, or aurora borealis, is a natural light display in the Earth's sky, predominantly seen in high-latitude regions. The lights are the result of disturbances in the magnetosphere caused by the solar wind, which sends electrified, magnetized particles. These particles interact with the Earth's magnetic field, creating a buffer zone between the planet and the solar wind, known as the magnetosphere. The magnetosphere has weak points over the North and South Poles, allowing charged particles to flow down into the atmosphere. Here, they interact with gases in the air to cause the Northern Lights and make the air electrically conducting so massive currents can flow.
During solar-induced magnetic storms, the energy associated with this action is on the order of 100 million megawatts, enough to light up New York City. The changing auroral fields can interact with the ground to knock out electric power transmission grids as far south as Texas. If an aurora hits during a heatwave, the sudden magnetic surge could knock out power to the entire East Coast.
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Static electricity
Another example of static electricity is the familiar phenomenon of a static shock. This occurs when you touch a conductive object after walking across a carpet. As you walk across the carpet, the atoms in your body strip away electrons from the carpet fibres, leaving a positive charge on the carpet. These electrons become isolated in the atoms of your body. When you reach out to touch a conductive object, such as a doorknob, a path to ground the built-up charge is created, and the electrons jump suddenly to the conductive material.
Lightning is also a dramatic natural example of static electricity. It occurs when there is a buildup of electrical charge in a cloud, and the electrons move from the cloud to the ground. This discharge of static electricity can be very powerful and is often accompanied by a bright flash and a loud thunderclap.
The effects of static electricity can be mitigated by increasing the moisture content of the air using methods such as opening a window or using a humidifier. This makes the atmosphere more conductive, allowing the static charge to dissipate. Additionally, items sensitive to static discharge can be treated with an antistatic agent, which adds a conducting surface layer that evenly distributes any excess charge.
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Hydroelectric power
The advantages of hydroelectric power include its renewability, due to the recurring nature of the hydrologic cycle, and its lack of thermal pollution. It is a preferred energy source in regions with heavy rainfall and hilly or mountainous terrain, as it can take advantage of the natural height difference between waterways. Additionally, hydroelectric power plants have low generation and management costs compared to other renewable energy sources.
However, there are also some disadvantages to hydroelectric power. The construction of large dams can lead to the displacement of local populations and the flooding of reservoirs can impact the environment. The number of suitable sites for new large-scale dams is limited, and the electricity generated is dependent on the amount of precipitation, making it unreliable in periods of low rainfall.
Despite these challenges, hydroelectric power remains a significant contributor to the world's electricity supply, with some facilities capable of generating more than double the installed capacities of the largest nuclear power stations.
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Nuclear power
Electricity is not freely available in nature and must be produced by transforming other forms of energy into electricity. Nuclear power plants generate electricity by using heat produced from splitting atoms (nuclear fission) to generate steam to drive a turbine. This steam spins the blades of the turbine, which drives a generator to produce electricity. Nuclear power plants can produce a huge amount of power from a single unit.
Nuclear fuel can be used in a reactor for several years, thanks to the immense amount of energy contained in uranium. Uranium is a metal that can be found in rocks all over the world. The power from one kilogram of uranium is about the same as one tonne of coal. Uranium ore is mined and processed into ceramic pellets, which are then used as fuel in the reactor. Each ceramic pellet produces about the same amount of energy as 150 gallons of oil.
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Fossil fuels
For many decades, electricity was only possible because of fossil fuels. Fossil fuels powered the Industrial Revolution and improved the quality of life worldwide. In 2017, fossil fuels generated 64.5% of worldwide electricity, compared with 61.9% in 1990. Fossil fuel power plants burn coal or oil to create heat, which is used to generate steam to drive turbines that generate electricity. In gas plants, hot gases drive a turbine to generate electricity, while a combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) plant also uses a steam generator to increase electricity production.
Burning coal for electricity releases large amounts of greenhouse gases. In 2016, 67.8% of Canada's electricity generation greenhouse gas emissions came from coal, despite only 9.3% of Canada's electricity being produced by coal. Burning coal and oil also releases nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide gas, which can lead to acid rain that harms soils, forests, lakes, and rivers.
Nuclear power, on the other hand, is an environmentally friendly form of electricity generation that does not contribute to air pollution. Nuclear power reactors use the heat produced from splitting atoms to generate steam to drive a turbine. No greenhouse gases are produced in the fission process, and nuclear power plants can run for many months without interruption, providing large amounts of clean electricity. In 2018, nuclear power generated 10.5% of the world's electricity.
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Frequently asked questions
Electricity in nature comes from lightning, static electricity, and the sun's activity. Lightning is a form of electricity caused by electrons moving between clouds or from a cloud to the ground. Static electricity is caused by electrons moving between objects, such as when rubbing a balloon on your hair. The sun's activity, including solar wind and magnetic storms, can also generate electricity in the Earth's atmosphere, creating phenomena such as the Northern and Southern lights.
Electricity for human use is generated through various methods, including burning fossil fuels, nuclear power, and renewable sources. Fossil fuels like coal, natural gas, and oil are the most common sources for electricity generation, but they are hazardous to the environment due to carbon dioxide emissions. Nuclear power plants use the heat produced from splitting atoms to generate steam and drive turbines. Renewable sources, such as wind, solar, hydro, and geothermal power, produce electricity with low greenhouse gas emissions and are considered cleaner energy sources.
Renewable energy sources, such as wind, solar, and hydro, offer a cleaner and more sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. They do not deplete natural resources and have lower carbon emissions, reducing environmental complications like global warming and air pollution. However, renewable energy sources typically cost more than fossil fuels, which is why they have not been widely adopted for electricity generation. Additionally, renewables may require significant space to accommodate the infrastructure necessary for power generation, such as wind turbines or solar panels.
One example of a natural source of electricity that does not originate from human-made power generation is electric eels (Electrophorus electricus). These eels, found in South American rivers, produce enough electricity to power multiple 40-watt lightbulbs.
