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In general, electricity is the movement of charged particles (this is called "current") as a result of applying an electrical potential (voltage). Yes,electricity's a pretty general term, but so is the term "electricity" as it is used in physics. Generally though, current is moving electrons. Electrons are the basic carriers of the negative electrical charge. They normally "live" around atoms in the electron clouds. But they also circulate in lots of places 'cause there are quite a few of them "floating around" in the form of static electricity. But most of the electricity we actually "use" is electricity that is flowing around in what is called a circuit.
Circuits are generally the wires we have to carry the electric current. The wires are usually made of copper, which has a whole bunch of copper atoms in it. (Keeping it simple here.) All those copper atoms will "donate" electrons to allow a current of electrons to flow in the wire. Look at it this way: put an electron in one end of a wire and one comes out the other end an instant later. No, not the same one. Just one that was in the wire. Electric current in wires is like "musical electrons" where electrons push each other along like cars on the freeway at rush hour. A car comes on here and another one leaves way down the road. That's current flow, or electric current flow, or electricity.
We have two wires to carry the electricity - one to get the electrons to where they are "used" and the other to carry them back. We need a "complete circuit" to make this happen. And it is a force called electromotive force (emf) or voltage that will cause the electrons to move. So what causes voltage?
Voltage we create is almost always made by generators. The generators use the principle of (electromagnetic) induction to cause the electrons to move. The coils of wire inside generators are spun inside a magnetic field, and the relative motion between the magnetic field and the wire causes electrons in the wire to move. We have created voltage to move electrons. We have generated electricity.
There are a few other ways to create voltage, and chemical cells are another way. We use batteries all the time, and these batteries are chemical cells that use the power of chemical reactions to generate the emf. Other methods of creating voltage exist, and they are discussed in other posts on WikiAnswers.
What else can I help you with?
Where does electrisity come from?
electrisity comes from big electricity generators .
Why does static electricity charge with wool?
Static electricity is the buildup of electrical charges on the surface of some object or material. Static electricity is usually created when materials are pulled apart or rubbed together, causing positive (+) charges to collect on one material and negative (−) charges on the other surface. Results from static electricity may be sparks, shocks or materials clinging together.
What is thales experiment?
Thales of miletus (an ancient greek city) experimented with electromagnetics and in that way created what today we know as static electricity. He waved a rod over a cloth with thingees on it and created electromagnetics.
When was electricity created?
Although, electricity was not explicitly discovered, it was known that iodestone posessed magnetic properties, and when amber and jet were rubbed together, it attracted things (static electricity). In 1600 English scientist William Gilbert made a careful study of electricity and magnetism and coined the term electricus which further evolved in to electric and electricity. In June 1752 , Benjamin Franklin conducted first experiment in which he attached a metal key to the bottom of a dampened kite string and flown the kite in a storm-threatened sky. The ancient greeks knew of static electricity. Electricity as we know it was discovered and studied by various scientists in the 1700s.
What is an insulator of electricity?
a insulator of electricity is a material that insulates, especialy a nonconuctor of sound,heat,or electricity.
What is electricity called when it is created by friction?
Electricity created by friction is known as "static electricity."
When was Delta Electricity created?
Delta Electricity was created in 1996.
When was Electricity Council created?
Electricity Council was created in 1957.
When was Midlands Electricity created?
Midlands Electricity was created in 1947.
When was No Electricity Required created?
No Electricity Required was created in 2004.
When was Spirit Electricity created?
Spirit Electricity was created in 1988.
When was Yorkshire Electricity created?
Yorkshire Electricity was created in 1948.
When was Eastern Electricity created?
Eastern Electricity was created in 1990 as one of the 12 regional electricity companies established in England and Wales during the privatization of the UK electricity industry.
When was To the Goddess Electricity created?
To the Goddess Electricity was created on 1999-10-04.
When was Solar Electricity Handbook created?
Solar Electricity Handbook was created in 2011.
When was Sabah Electricity created?
Sabah Electricity was created on 1998-09-01.
When was Electricity North West created?
Electricity North West was created in 2007.
