who can tell me - in the most simple of terms - how electricity actually works?!! best analogy gets ten!!?

Answer 1

Electrical energy, is produced at a power plant, Different types of plants generate electricity in different ways, Oil, coal, and natural gas fuel most power plants. These fuels are burned, and the heat given is used to boil water.

When water boils, the high pressure steam produced can physically propel electrical generators; These generators are simply large magnets that spin with respect to coils of metal wire. Electricity and magnetism are related physical phenomena, so these moving magnets actually causes electricity to flow in the wires.

Now, electricity is actually moving electrons. (Electrons are the negatively charged particles that surround every atom). The electrons can actually flow from atom to atom in metals, particularly those used for power lines; As long as the wires are connected in a loop of some kind, called a circuit, electricity can flow easily. So the power lines that extend out form a power plant into the community, eventually lead all the way back to the plant.

The amount of electricity flowing in power lines is much greater than any individual house could need, so transformers are used to distribute energy to each household. Transformers make use of the physical laws that describe electrical phenomena to drain off a certain percentage of the energy a power lines carrying, and transmit it to wires connected to smaller circuits, like the one in your house.

In your house, there are generally several circuits, each allowing for a certain amount of electricity. This is important because if too much electricity were to flow through a single wire, it could cause a fire and be a shock hazard. When you plug something in, say a light bulb, it uses the electrical energy to do something special. In this case, to create light. Electrical energy can also be used to run motors, like the one that keeps your refrigerator cold. It can also be used to produce sounds (from a cassette player), keep time (with a clock) or make calculations (on a computer). In each of these devices, some amount of electricity is used to do something useful.

Hope this satisfies your question.

Answer 2

Well to be simple Electricity comes in from the pole to the meter, from the meter to the fuse box or breaker box, and then to everything electric in your house. If some where there is a break in the line your electric will not run well and you will pay more for it. You can tell this if a light or appliance does not work in a special place. I t could be for a break in the wire.
Electricity then returns and makes a cycle. much like a rubber band.

Answer 3

It is like a river that feeds a mill with a water wheel. Most of the electric that flows through a wire then through an appliance is not used and flows back out through the other side of the wire. The same for the water wheel on the mill, most of the water flows by the water wheel and the water that turns the water wheel is also dumped back in the river as the wheel turns.

Answer 4

the main considered necessary approaches that the individuals can wrestle international warming is getting rid of their older sort vehicles (1979 Buick) through fact, older vehicles emmitt greater poisonous fumes into the air. Its obtrusive that the greater technological progressed a motor vehicle is, the fewer risky gases it emmitts. A motor vehicle that became outfitted 3 or 4 years in the past would be greater economic gadget friendly than a motor vehicle that became assembled 35 years in the past. for best populated cities inclusive of manhattan, Bus and Taxi companys would desire to replace modern-day vehicles with vehicles that are powered by hydrogen or electrical energy. merely think of, if each and every substantial city used the Toyota Prius as taxi's, there could be a decreased point of toxins, and additionally taxi fares ought to be extensively decrease as nicely.

Answer 5

Electricity is a property of matter that results from the presence or movement of electric charge. Together with magnetism, it constitutes the fundamental interaction known as electromagnetism. Electricity is responsible for many well-known physical phenomena such as lightning, electric fields and electric currents, and is put to use in industrial applications such as electronics and electric power.

Answer 6

What we call electricity is electrons flowing from one atom to another. Some materials have an extra electron in an outer shell. This is known as a free electron. Copper and gold are good examples of this. This electron is free to jump to another atom and be replaced by another free electron. This motion is electricity.

Answer 7

Basically its a flow of particles.

Imagine water flowing down a pipe, thats how electrickery flows down a wire.

And like water, electricty need to be flowing to do its job. Plug the end of a pipe (disconnect a wire) and there is now flow - of either water or electricity.

Answer 8

It is like having sex. The charge builds up and releases when there is an easier resistance path to follow.

Answer 9

Zap! Magic.

Answer 10

you flick the switch- it is definately not magic