FAMOUS CREATION OF THE DAY ELECTRICITY

What

appliance

in

todays

world

does

not

require

electricity

? It is undoubtedly the discovery of the century.

DESCRIPTION: Electricity can be defined as the physical phenomena associated with the flow of electric charge.

HOW IT WORKS: Charge exists in every atom in the form of the positively charged proton and the negatively charged electron. Electrons however, are located at some distance away from the nucleus where the nuclear binding force is in full effect and thus, they are easier to dissociate from

the atom and direct along a particular path ; so what is commonly termed electricity is simply the flow of electrons into a body by means of a conducting material. Take for example, a

battery operated device; a chemical reaction takes place within the battery that produces a build-up of electrons in the electron-receiving plate (anode). When a conducting material like a copper wire, is attached to the battery, the electrons that have been built up, exert repulsion forces on each other and hence, try to move to the positive plate (cathode) through the copper wire. As they pass through the copper wire, they energise the free electrons within the copper and these in turn; join in the flow of electrons. This flow of electrons is what we call electricity and this is utilized to power

various appliances. In the case of power-generating stations,

steam is passed to a turbine which spins and rotates a shaft attached to a large electric magnet; this magnet is placed inside a coil of heavy copper conductors. As the magnet rotates, it causes the free electrons in the copper wire to flow in different directions (alternating current) and this is then

distributed to the general public

INVENTOR(S) OF ELECTRICITY:

In the year 1600, English

scientist, William Gilbert made a discovery pertaining to electricity; he noted that when he rubbed amber vigorously with fur cloth, the amber attracted small pieces of paper to

itself. In 1752, Benjamin Franklin conducted an experiment to show that lightning gave off electrical power; he fastened an iron rod to a silk kite and flew it during a thunderstorm. Attached to the kites string was an iron key; so when lightning struck, a spark of electricity was conducted from the lightning, down the iron rod to Benjamins hand holding on to the iron key and the spark mildly electrocuted him. In 1786,

an Italian doctor called Luigi

Galvani, noted that the leg

of a dead frog twitched when touched with a metal knife and seemingly concluded that organic matter contain some

electricity. In 1792, another Italian, Alessandro Volta did more research on Galvanis claims and eventually refuted them, stating that it was due to Galvanis use of two different metals; a steel knife and a tin plate containing the leg of the dead frog and not the leg itself, that caused electricity to flow. Volta further found that the moisture present in the leg of the dead frog also aided the flow of electricity between the metals; with this thorough conclusion, he invented the first battery using thin sheets of copper and zinc separated by brine-soaked cardboard and this set-up created a steady flow of electricity. Volta also conducted further experiments to show that electricity can be made to travel from one place to another by

means of a conducting wire. In 1831, Michael Faraday took the production of electricity large-scale; he discovered that when a magnet moves inside a coil of copper wire, tiny bits of electricity flow through the wire thus, paving the way for

hydroelectric power stations. In 1878, Joseph Swan, after series of experiments, made a discovery that showed that when electric current is passed through wires with lower

conductivity, it causes them to glow, thus birthing the usage of

incandescent lamps. The reason for the glow was simple; as the electrons pass into the wire of lower conductivity, their movement is slowed down substantially and they go on to hit the surrounding atoms. As the atoms vibrate and shake from the bombardment, they glow and emit light.

Some months later, Thomas Edison also discovered the glowing phenomenon but to avoid any altercation with Swan who had already received a patent in Britain, they collaborated to form the Ediswan Electric Light Company. Thomas Edison, in order to maximise the potentials of the incandescent lamp, started an electric power distribution company to commercially

distribute the low-voltage DC current. Nikola Tesla, who had previously worked for Edison, designed and built a generator that produced the more efficient AC current and sold

the patent to George Westinghouse. This started what history calls the Currents War between Westinghouse and Edison; the use of AC current would prevail to be the more economically viable option and it has remained that way till today.

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ONLINE SOURCES 1) Wikipedia: Electricity 2) How Stuff Works: How Electricity Works 3) WiseGeek: Who discovered Electricity? 4) The Tech: Welcome to Electricity 5) KPCL Kids: Power plant