Electrical Energy

Electrical energy is energy that is caused by moving electric charges. Since the
electric charges are moving, this is a form of kinetic energy. The faster the electric
charges are moving the more electrical energy they carry. We can use the analogy
of a ball being thrown at a window. The ball represents an electric charge and if the
ball is not thrown very fast, then it may simply not have enough energy to break the
window. The faster the ball travels, the more energy it has and it then has the ability
to break the window. Electrical energy is basically generated the same way
regardless of the starting form of energy. If nuclear energy is utilized, the energy
released heats water into steam. The steam is then used to turn a turbine blade
which fires up a generator and gives the electric charges their energy. If
hydroelectric energy is used, then the falling water is used to spin turbine blades,
which turns the generator creating electrical energy. If windmill energy is used, the
windmill itself turns the turbine blade which makes the generator create electrical
energy. Regardless of the starting form of energy, that energy is used to give
electric charges energy of motion which is electrical energy.

Examples of Electrical Energy:

1. In a car battery, the chemical reaction creates an electron which has the energy
to move in an electric current. These moving charges provide electrical energy to
the circuits in the car.
2. A lamp is plugged into a wall outlet. The electric current moves from the wall
outlet into the light bulb in the lamp supplying electrical energy. When the electric
charges slowdown in the filament to light the light bulb, light energy is created.
3. Batteries in a cell phone supply chemical energy to electric charges. The electric
charges use the energy to be put into motion. This electrical energy now travels
through the phone supplying the phone with electricity.
4. When our bodies break down food to produce ATP energy, our bodies convert the
ATP energy into electrical energy. The electric charges move through our special
nervous system cells to make our heartbeat.
5. A stove plugged into a wall outlet takes the moving electric charges, electrical
energy and changes them into thermal energy by causing the heating coils to get
very hot for cooking.

Sources of Electrical Energy

Electricity is a secondary source of energy because it cannot be extracted from the
ground, like fossil fuels, or captured from moving phenomena, such as water or
wind. Most electricity consumed in the United States has a fossil fuel as its source,
according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Renewable
resources, such as wind and solar, represent a small but growing percentage of
electricity sources.

Fossil fuels
Fossil fuels occur naturally in the earth and are the remains of living organisms from
the geological past. They include coal, oil and natural gas, which generate
electricity when they burn in large electric power plants.
Nuclear power
Nuclear power is a nonrenewable energy source that uses radioactive materials as
part of the process of heating water to generate electricity. The process generates
zero atmospheric emissions, as stated by the National Academy of Sciences.
Renewable energy
Renewable energy sources are naturally replenished and include biomass, hydro,
geothermal, solar and wind. Some of these renewable sources are intermittent, such
as wind, which can create complications when using them to generate electricity on
a large scale.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Electrical Energy

Advantages
It is transportable over long distances
It is silent
It can be used produce magnetic fields, which can be used to propel motors
It is very transformable
It is very fast, virtually the speed of light
It can be used to produce other forms of radiant energy, such as radio waves,
microwaves, radiant heat and light
You can store it for use later

It is the Esperanto of energy, it can covert to just about anything

Disadvantages
It can kill you
We become dependent on it
We use other dirtier forms of energy (nuclear, fossil fuels) to produce it
There is growing concern that the magnetic fields around transmission lines
may be unhealthy

Uses of Electricity

Uses of Electricity
We use electricity constantly in our daily lives. It is one of the most important types
of power and energy that we use.

Electricity in our House

Electricity travels to our house over power lines from a big power plant somewhere
far away. Your parents actually have to pay for how much electricity is used. There is
an electric meter outside of your house that keeps track of this. The more the lights
are on or the TV is running, the higher the bill will be from the electric company.
Once the power comes to our house, it gets sent out on wires to sockets in the
walls. We can plug all sorts of things into these sockets and use the power from
electricity. In our homes we power lights, air conditioning, televisions, ovens, and
more from electricity. Without it, we'd be bored, hot, and sitting in the dark.

Batteries
Some electricity comes from batteries. Batteries use chemicals to store up
electricity that can power devices like cell phones, radio controlled cars, handheld
video games, and flashlights. Batteries run out of power after a while and either
need to be recharged or recycled. Remember to always recycle your batteries as
there are dangerous chemicals in them!

Other uses
Electricity is used in cars too. There is a big battery to help the engine get started.
Then the engine generates electricity for the radio, lights, and other cool features.
Some cars run 100% on electricity by using big batteries that get charged up from a
wall socket.
Electricity also can make magnetism. This can be used to create giant powerful
magnets as well as fast and quiet magnetic trains. Electric motors generate
magnetism to turn the motor and cause movement for all sorts of uses.