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What is Electricity and How it is Generated and Transmitted in Homes

There are several technology which transformed our civilization. The first advent was the wheel, the second creation was electric power, the 3rd innovation was telephone, and the 4th technology was the personal computer.

Here we are going to talk about the fundamental overview of electricity. Every matter on this universe consists of an abundance of atoms and each atom contains the identical quantity of negative electrons and positive protons.

Because of this, we can easily say that every neutral element contains the exact same quantity of electrons and protons within it. The protons are unflinching and firmly linked to the nucleus of the atoms.

Electrons are similarly attached firmly to atoms and revolving round the nucleus in a variety of unique levels. However, many of the electrons have the ability to  move readily or are able to jump out from their orbit because of outside forces. These freely attached electrons constitute the flow of electricity.

In neutral status, the quantity of electrons and protons could be identical in just about any part of substance.

However in case for some reason the quantity of electrons within a material turns into more than amount of protons, the material turns into a negatively charged element since the overall charge of each one electron will be negative.

In case the quantity of electrons within a material gets lower than the quantity of protons, the material turns into positively charged.

Characteristics of Electricity

The density of free electrons constantly attempts to end up being uniform. This can be the fundamental reason behind the formation of electricity. I would like to to  discuss this in more detail. Suppose  a couple of un-uniformly charged conductive systems come in contact, the electrons from the body of greater electron density would start moving into the body having lower electron density in an attempt to create an equilibrium across the electron density levels of the two bodies. This motion of charge (since electrons are charged particles) constitutes electricity.

Electric Charge: As we stated before that the amount of electrons and amount of protons tend to be identical within a neutral body.

The quantity of negative charge and positive change is likewise identical within a neutral body because the electric charge of an electron and a proton is mathematically the same although their polarity will be opposite.

However for just about any reason, the equilibrium of the quantity of electrons and protons within a body may get distributed, and then the body turns into an electrically charged body.

When the amount of electrons gets higher than that of protons the body turns into negatively charged and the level of charge is determined by the amount of extra electrons present within the body.

Likewise, we could describe the positive charge of a body. In this case,  the amount of electrons gets lower compared to that of protons. The positivity of the body is now determined by the difference between protons and electrons in the body.

Electric Current: When charge moves across a given set of points to generate consistent charge circulation then the level at which the charge may be moving is known as electric current.

This rate primarily is determined by the difference between the charged status of two points and the factors of the conductor in which the charge may be moving. The unit of electric current is Ampere which is simply coulomb per second.

Electric Potential: The magnitude of charged condition of a body is known as electric potential. A body in a charged condition acquires the capacity to do certain work. Electric potential may be understood as the value that determines the capability of a charged body to accomplish some work.
The current moving within a conductor is directly proportional to the potential difference between the ends of the conductor.

To understand electric potential imagine two water filled tanks joined with a pipe link. In this case the difference in levels of water across the two tanks resembles the electric potential concept.

Here, the speed at which water drains from the tank carrying more water to the tank carrying less water will depend on the initial difference between their levels, and not in the quality of water.

Quite similarly, the pressure of electric current across the two ends of a conductor depends on the potential difference existing across these ends of the conductor, and not on the level of charge present in the conductor.

Electric Field: There will be a continuous existing  pressure among two charged bodies laced in close proximity.

The force could be either in the form of an attraction or repulsion which may depend on the characteristics of the charged bodies.

When a charged body finds itself close to another charged body this force becomes inevitable. The region encircling a charged body which may be near to another charged body experinecing a force is known as the electric field of the original body.

Electromechanical Process: When a conductor is moved rapidly within a field of magnet, the conductor slashes the magnetic flux lines inducing electric current in the conductor. Based on this basic theory all electrical power generators aredesigned for producing electricity, these include DC alternators, dynamos etc

Electrochemical Process: In most forms of battery, electrical energy is generated as a result of chemical reactions. In this concept  chemical energy gets transformed into electrical power.

Electromechanical Process: When a conductor is moved rapidly within a field of magnet, the conductor slashes the magnetic flux lines inducing electric current in the conductor. Based on this basic theory all electrical power generators are designed for producing electricity, these include DC alternators, dynamos etc

Electrochemical Process: In most forms of battery, electrical energy is generated as a result of chemical reactions. In this concept  chemical energy gets transformed into electrical power.

Solid State Electric Generation: This is the most contemporary technique of generating electricity. In this concept, , free electrons and holes are created on a semiconductor PN junction.  This forces a disturbance in the balance of the distribution of charge carriers across the PN junction. This normally takes place in response to SUNLIGHT.

This induces the transfer of free electrons across the holes causing a current flow to develop across the junction and this results in the generation of electricity across an attached external circuit. This is the basic principle which is used for making solar panels, and solar PV modules.

Types of Electricity

When electricity is generated within the armature of a generator, it is invariably an alternating AC in nature.

This suggests polarity of electrical energy changes its polarity in a periodic time interval. Normally you will find this inside DC generators where the generated electricity in the armature is further rectified through an attached commutator. And in alternators such as car alternator, the generated AC in the armature is transferred to an external circuit by means of slip rings.

Devices which generate electricity in a constant form or in which the generated electricity does not change its polarity is called DC electricity. Best examples for such DC generators are Batteries and solar cells.

Generation Transmission and Distribution of Electricity

Distribution of Electricity: Right after electrical power is developed within an electrical power-plant it goes through a boosting process by means of step up transformer for enabling the long range power transmission through cables.

Electricity generation using low voltage concept may look easier to implement. However low voltage transmission may not be actually cost-effective. In any electrical transmission system, the generated electricity is initially stepped-up and eventually after transmission or the electricity reaches the destination it is again stepped-down through step down transformers for completing the distribution of the electricity transmission.

The generation of electricity, its transmission, and distribution are typically implemented having 3 separate phase systems. For power which are extremely high, the transmission process is not normally affordable always, and which is why dc transmission is oftentimes applied for such concepts. The supply method of household buildings is often a single phase AC although all industrial, business and larger residences normally work with three phase system for enabling efficent power usage and economical  utility bills.

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