What is electricity?

Humans rely on electricity because it has many practical uses. Then, what is it?

Electricity

Electricity is the phenomenon of electric energy. For example, if the charge of an object isn’t in balance, it produces static electricity. You probably have known this by an electric shock on your hand. Also, things with static electricity like to stick to each other if they have the opposite charge and repel each other if they have the same charge.

Conductors and Insulators

Sometimes things are good at conducting electricity but some are not. Why? That depends on the electrons’ configurations! Electrons are responsible for electricity so their names are similar. For instance, copper only has 1 electron in its outer layer, and it is easy to be escaped. Therefore, it is one of the best conductors in the Universe.

But there is an opposite one — insulators. They are bad at transferring electricity since their outer layer is almost full and the atom doesn’t want to lose electrons. It is also a fairly clear boundary between metals and non-metals, although the non-metal carbon is a conductor.

Closed Circuit

When you turn on a switch, you’ll see the light turns on. If you turn off the switch, the light will follow. You might wonder if a signal is being sent unless you know a closed circuit. It allows electricity to flow in a controlled direction without drifting away. That means you can aim the current at the light bulb and it turns on and emits light!

When you turn off a switch, that means you cut the closed circuit. For example, it uses a conductor to conduct electricity when turned on, but the circuit cannot continue once the conductor disappears. That’s how switches work, right?

But wait! We need the source of energy before we get to transfer it to the bulb! That’s why we must use batteries. It turns chemical energy into electric energy, just like how our brains send out signals. Also, a popular type of battery is lithium ion batteries. That is also the primary purpose of lithium and it uses free-floating electrons in the ions. Theoretically, lithium battery could work forever, but it will decay due to some factors.

Lightning

You have probably heard of lightning, which is a natural electrical current. But how this current appear so suddenly? An electric discharge causes this. A positively and negatively charged part suddenly forms a charge when the conditions are ideal to make a current. It then produces a sound due to the rapid expansion of air facing temperatures 5 times hotter than Sun’s surface. Also, it emits a streak of light that emits a lot of ultraviolet.

Sources of electricity

Also, we can add more energy to the battery, or once the batteries uses up. That is when renewable energy and fossil fuels matter. For example, when you burn fossil fuels, the energy stored in the molecules transform into electric energy. Remember in Forms Of Energy, forms of energy can change from one form to another?

Moreover, we are using renewable energy more often, which offers as a virtually infinite source. For example, we use solar energy by converting the radiation into electric energy. In addition, we can also use wind, water or even people exercising for our energy usage.

Safety

In an era full of electricity, it is crucial to learn how to be safe with it. First, everyone knows we should not touch switches when the hands are wet. Although pure water is a poor conductor, tap water is really good at conducting electricity. If any electrical leak happens at that time, you would get an electric shock, maybe leading to death.

Also, in stormy weather, find a shelter with a lightning rod. When currents are sent to the ground, a lightning rod can spread out the energy evenly and prevent a person inside from getting an electric shock. Moreover, don’t touch wires with metals exposed, especially when the associated equipment is turned on. Immediately call an expert to fix that if you find that gap.

Furthermore, do not make 2 wires in contact. Possibly it can cause a short circuit, which is perilous. A short circuit appears when 2 electrical conductors touch together with a meager resistance so that the electricity that flows on both sides touch and create an excessive voltage. The energy is so great that it can even cause fires.

In addition, don’t throw things near a power line. In case a leak happens meanwhile, it can go to the person and cause injury. For safety, blackouts might occur in case something went wrong during the removal if the object is stuck.

So, even though electricity is fascinating and has many uses, we must safely deal with them and make it not fatal.