To the untrained eye and the unwise mind, electricity can seem almost magical, as if it’s a type of life energy allowing man’s creations to become animated and ‘alive.’ Unfortunately, the reality behind electricity isn’t terribly mystical, but it’s still interesting and remains one of the most complex scientific inventions of all time.
Electricity has allowed human society to advance to great heights and has now become the foundation of entertainment and industry. With much of our lives being surrounded by these charged particles, it’s about time everyone learned about the science behind electricity.
What is Electricity?
Electricity is simply a form of energy, much in the same vain as sound, kinetic heat and elastic energy. This energy can be built up in one place and can flow between two points. Much like all the other forms of energy, electricity can’t be created or destroyed, just converted and transferred into other types. That’s why lightbulbs heat up and hum when they’ve been on for a long time because some of the electrical energy is being converted. When electricity sits in one place, it’s known as static electricity, and electricity that is on the move — like the kind in electronics — is known as current electricity.
Static Electricity
Static electricity occurs when items rub together and create an electrical charge. The commonly used example of static electricity is rubbing a balloon against a sweater. This act makes the balloon stick to you like a magnet, and the reason is because the balloon now has the opposite electrical charge to the garment, meaning that they now attract.
The atoms within particles can be either positive or negatively charged, and when one changes from either state, this is what creates electrical energy. How this change happens is simple: atoms are surrounded by negatively charged electrons and positively charged protons, and usually the number of each is equal, making the atom natural.
However, rubbing an item can free some of the negative electrons, altering the atomic balance and making it positive since now the number of protons outweigh the number of electrons. The thing that was used to rub the item has now taken those freed electrons and become negatively charged, which then creates an attraction, and voilà, static electricity is formed.
Current Electricity
When electrons move, they carry electrical energy with them. This is what is known as current electricity, which is used to power numerous electrical components, or electronic parts like those found through Octopart, as well as the appliances that you use.
For an electrical current to form, there needs to be a circuit for that energy to flow through. Most circuits are made from conductive material such as metals like copper or gold and can be found in most electronical appliances. A current needs a complete closed circuit to work because if there is a break in a circuit, then the power can’t flow through.
There are also two types of electrical currents, direct and alternating. A direct current is when the electrons are always going in the same direction around the circuit and is used for most toys and small gadgets. An alternating current is when the electrons are free to move forward and backwards and oscillates directions about 50-60 times a second. This type of current is used in much larger appliances and is the type of electricity that comes from your mains electricity supply.
