Or electric shock called a directionally moving stream of charged particles, such as electrons. Also called electricity is the energy obtained as a result of such movement of charged particles, and the lighting that is obtained on the basis of this energy. The term "electricity" was introduced by the English scientist William Gilbert in 1600 in his essay On the Magnet, Magnetic Bodies, and the Great Magnet, the Earth.

Gilbert conducted experiments with amber, which, as a result of friction against the cloth, was able to attract other light bodies, that is, it acquired a certain charge. And since amber is translated from Greek as an electron, the phenomenon observed by the scientist was called "electricity".

Electricity

A little theory about electricity

Electricity is able to create an electric field around conductors of electric current or charged bodies. Through electric field it is possible to have an effect on other bodies that have an electric charge.fv

Electric charges, as everyone knows, are divided into positive and negative. This choice is conditional, however, due to the fact that it has long been made historically, it is only for this reason that a certain sign is assigned to each charge.

Bodies that are charged with the same type of sign repel each other, and those that have different charges, on the contrary, attract.

During the movement of charged particles, that is, the existence of electricity, in addition to the electric field, a magnetic field also arises. This allows you to set relationship between electricity and magnetism.

Interestingly, there are bodies that conduct electricity or bodies with very high resistance. This was discovered by the English scientist Stephen Gray in 1729.

The study of electricity, most fully and fundamentally, is engaged in such a science as thermodynamics. However, the quantum properties of electromagnetic fields and charged particles are studied by a completely different science - quantum thermodynamics, however, some of the quantum phenomena can be quite simply explained by ordinary quantum theories.

Basics of electricity

The history of the discovery of electricity

To begin with, it must be said that there is no such scientist who can be considered the discoverer of electricity, since from ancient times to the present day, many scientists study its properties and learn something new about electricity.

  • The first person to be interested in electricity was ancient Greek philosopher Thales. He discovered that amber, which is rubbed against wool, acquires the property of attracting other light bodies.
  • Then another ancient Greek scientist, Aristotle, studied some eels, which struck enemies, as we now know, with an electric discharge.
  • In 70 AD, the Roman writer Pliny studied the electrical properties of resin.
  • However, then for a long time no knowledge was gained about electricity.
  • And only in the 16th century, the court physician of the English Queen Elizabeth 1, William Gilbert, began to study electrical properties and made a series interesting discoveries. After that, literally "electrical insanity" began.
  • Only in 1600 did the term "electricity" appear, introduced by the English scientist William Gilbert.
  • In 1650, thanks to the mayor of Magdeburg, Otto von Guericke, who invented the electrostatic machine, it became possible to observe the effect of repulsion of bodies under the influence of electricity.
  • In 1729, the English scientist Stephen Gray, while conducting experiments on the transmission of electric current over a distance, accidentally discovered that not all materials have the ability to transmit electricity in the same way.
  • In 1733, the French scientist Charles Dufay discovered the existence of two types of electricity, which he called glass and resin. They received these names due to the fact that they were detected by rubbing glass on silk and resin on wool.
  • The first capacitor, that is, the storage of electricity, was invented by the Dutchman Pieter van Muschenbroek in 1745. This capacitor was called the Leyden jar.
  • In 1747, the American B. Franklin created the world's first theory of electricity. According to Franklin, electricity is an intangible liquid or fluid. Another merit of Franklin to science is that he invented a lightning rod and with it proved that lightning has an electrical origin. He also introduced such concepts as positive and negative charges, but did not discover the charges. This discovery was made by the scientist Simmer, who proved the existence of charge poles: positive and negative.
  • The study of the properties of electricity moved to exact sciences after in 1785 Coulomb discovered the law of the force of interaction occurring between point electric charges, which was called Coulomb's Law.
  • Then, in 1791, the Italian scientist Galvani published a treatise on the fact that in the muscles of animals, when they move, an electric current arises.
  • The invention of the battery by another Italian scientist - Volt in 1800, led to the rapid development of the science of electricity and to the subsequent series of important discoveries in this area.
  • This was followed by the discoveries of Faraday, Maxwell and Ampère, which took place in just 20 years.
  • In 1874, the Russian engineer A.N. Lodygin received a patent for an incandescent lamp with a carbon rod invented in 1872. Then a tungsten rod was used in the lamp. And in 1906, he sold his patent to the Thomas Edison Company.
  • In 1888, Hertz registers electromagnetic waves.
  • In 1879, Joseph Thomson discovers the electron, which is the material carrier of electricity.
  • In 1911, the Frenchman Georges Claude invented the world's first neon lamp.
  • The twentieth century gave the world the theory of quantum electrodynamics.
  • In 1967, another step was taken towards the study of the properties of electricity. This year the theory of electroweak interactions was created.

However, these are only the main discoveries made by scientists, and contributed to the use of electricity. But research continues even now, and every year there are discoveries in the field of electricity.

Everyone is sure that the greatest and most powerful in terms of discoveries related to electricity was Nikola Tesla. He himself was born in the Austrian Empire, now it is the territory of Croatia. In his baggage of inventions and scientific works: alternating current, field theory, ether, radio, resonance and much more. Some admit the possibility that the phenomenon of the “Tunguska meteorite” is nothing more than the work of the hands of Nikola Tesla himself, namely, an explosion of enormous power in Siberia.

Master of the World - Nikola Tesla

For a while it was believed that electricity did not exist in nature. However, after B. Franklin established that lightning has an electrical origin, this opinion ceased to exist.

The importance of electricity in nature, as well as in human life, is quite huge. After all, it was lightning that led to the synthesis of amino acids and, consequently, to the emergence of life on earth..

Processes in nervous system human and animal, for example, movement and breathing, occur due to the nerve impulse that arises from the electricity that exists in the tissues of living beings.

Some types of fish use electricity, or rather electrical discharges, to protect themselves from enemies, search for food under water and get it. These fish are: eels, lampreys, electric rays and even some sharks. All these fish have a special electric organ that works on the principle of a capacitor, that is, it accumulates a sufficiently large electric charge, and then discharges it onto the victim who has touched such a fish. Also, such an organ operates at a frequency of several hundred hertz and has a voltage of several volts. The current strength of the electric organ of fish changes with age: the older the fish becomes, the greater the current strength. Also, thanks to the electric current, fish that live at great depths navigate in the water. Electric field distorted by the action of objects in the water. And these distortions help the fish navigate.

Deadly experiences. Electricity

Getting electricity

Power plants were specially created to generate electricity. Power plants use generators to create electricity, which is then transferred to places of consumption through power lines. Electric current is created due to the transition of mechanical or internal energy into electrical energy. Power plants are divided into: hydroelectric power plants or hydroelectric power plants, thermal nuclear, wind, tidal, solar and other power plants.

In hydroelectric power plants, the turbines of the generator, moving under the influence of the flow of water, generate electricity. In thermal power plants or, in other words, CHPs, electric current is also generated, but instead of water, water vapor is used, which occurs in the process of heating water during the combustion of fuel, such as coal.

A very similar operating principle is used in nuclear power plant or nuclear power plant. Only nuclear power plants use a different type of fuel - radioactive materials, such as uranium or plutonium. There is a division of their nuclei, due to which a very a large number of heat used to heat water and turn it into water vapor, which then enters a turbine that generates electricity. These stations require very little fuel to operate. So ten grams of uranium generates the same amount of electricity as a car of coal.

Use of electricity

Nowadays, life without electricity is becoming impossible. It is quite densely entered into the life of people of the twenty-first century. Often electricity is used for lighting, for example, using an electric or neon lamp, and for transmitting all kinds of information using telephone, television and radio, and in the past, telegraph. Also, back in the twentieth century, a new area of ​​​​application of electricity appeared: a power source for electric motors in trams, subway trains, trolleybuses and electric trains. Electricity is necessary for the operation of various household appliances, which greatly improve life. modern man.

Today, electricity is also used to produce quality materials and process them. With the help of electric guitars, powered by electricity, you can create music. Also, electricity continues to be used as a humane way of killing criminals (electric chair) in countries that allow the death penalty.

Also considering that the life of a modern person is becoming almost impossible without computers and cell phones, which require electricity to operate, then the importance of electricity will be difficult to overestimate.

Electricity in mythology and art

In the mythology of almost all peoples there are gods who are able to throw lightning, that is, who know how to use electricity. For example, among the Greeks, Zeus was such a god, among the Hindus, Agni, who knew how to turn into lightning, among the Slavs, it was Perun, and among the Scandinavian peoples, Thor.

Cartoons also have electricity. So in the Disney cartoon Black Cape there is an anti-hero Megavolt, who is able to command electricity. In Japanese animation, the Pokemon Pikachu has electricity.

Conclusion

The study of the properties of electricity began in ancient times and continues to this day. Having learned the basic properties of electricity and learning how to use them correctly, people have greatly facilitated their lives. Electricity is also used in factories, factories, etc., that is, it can be used to receive other benefits. The importance of electricity, both in nature and in the life of modern man, is enormous. Without such an electrical phenomenon as lightning, life would not have arisen on earth, and without nerve impulses, which also arise due to electricity, it would not be possible to ensure coordinated work between all parts of organisms.

People have always been grateful for electricity, even when they did not know about its existence. They endowed their main gods with the ability to throw lightning.

Modern man also does not forget about electricity, but is it possible to forget about it? He endows cartoon and movie characters with electrical abilities, builds power plants to generate electricity, and much more.

Thus, electricity is the greatest gift given to us by nature itself and which we, fortunately, have learned to use.

ELECTRICITY

ELECTRICITY, a form of energy that exists in the form of static or moving ELECTRIC CHARGES. Charges can be positive or negative. Like charges repel, opposite charges attract. The forces of interaction between charges are described by the Coulomb's LAW. When charges move in a magnetic field, they experience a magnetic force and in turn create an oppositely directed magnetic field (FARADAY'S LAWS). Electricity and MAGNETISM are different aspects of the same phenomenon, ELECTROMAGNETISM. The flow of charges forms an ELECTRIC current, which in the conductor is a flow of negatively charged ELECTRONS. In order for an electric current to arise in the CONDUCTOR, an ELECTRIC DRIVE FORCE or POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE between the ends of the conductor is necessary. Current that moves in only one direction is called direct current. This current is created when the source of the potential difference is the BATTERY. A current that changes direction twice in a cycle is called variable current. The source of such current is the central network. The unit of current is the ampere, the unit of charge is the pendant, the ohm is the unit of resistance, and the volt is the unit of electromotive force. The main means for calculating parameters electrical circuit are Ohm's LAW and KIRCHHOFF'S LAWS (on the summation of voltage and current in a circuit). see also ELECTRICITY, ELECTRONICS.

Electrical energy can be obtained by induction in a generator; the voltage in the primary winding creates an alternating current in the external circuit. The presence of inductance or capacitance (or both) results in a phase shift (A) between voltage V and current I. The figure shows that the capacitance caused a phase shift of 90°, resulting in average value power is 0, although the no power curve is still sinusoidal. The power reduction P caused by the phase shift is called the power factor. If three phases of alternating current are displaced between themselves, each by 120°, then the sum of their current or voltage values ​​will always be equal to zero (V). Such three-phase currents are used in short-circuited induction motors with a rotor (C). In this design, there are three electromagnets rotating in the generated magnetic field. Alternating current is also produced in closed (D) and open (E) oscillatory circuits. The high frequency electromagnetic waves used in some communication systems ARE PRODUCED BY TEKIM1 circuits.


Scientific and technical encyclopedic dictionary.

Synonyms:

See what "ELECTRICITY" is in other dictionaries:

    - (from the Greek elektron amber, as amber attracts light bodies). A special property of some bodies, which manifests itself only under certain conditions, for example. by friction, heat, or chemical reactions, and manifested by the attraction of lighter ones ... ... Dictionary of foreign words of the Russian language

    ELECTRICITY, electricity, pl. no, cf. (Greek elektron). 1. Substance underlying the structure of matter (physical). || Peculiar phenomena accompanying the movement and movement of particles of this substance, the form of energy (electric current, etc.) ... Dictionary Ushakov

    A set of phenomena caused by the existence, movement and interaction of charged bodies or particles of electric charge carriers. The connection of electricity and magnetism, the interaction of motionless electric charges is carried out ... ...

    - (from Greek elektron amber) a set of phenomena in which existence, movement and interaction are detected (by means of electro magnetic field) charged particles. The doctrine of electricity is one of the main branches of physics. Often under... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

    Lepisdrichestvo, electric current, lepistrichestvo, lepistrichestvo, current, electricity, lighting Dictionary of Russian synonyms. electricity n., number of synonyms: 13 actinoelectricity ... Synonym dictionary

    ELECTRICITY- in the most general sense represents one of the forms of motion of matter. Usually, this word means either an electric charge as such or the very doctrine of electric charges, their movement and interaction. The word E. comes from the Greek. electron... Big Medical Encyclopedia

    electricity- (1) EN electricity (1) set of phenomena associated with electric charges and electric currents NOTE 1 - Examples of usage of this concept: static electricity, biological effects of electricity. NOTE 2 - In… … Technical Translator's Handbook

    ELECTRICITY, a, cf. Explanatory dictionary of Ozhegov. S.I. Ozhegov, N.Yu. Shvedova. 1949 1992 ... Explanatory dictionary of Ozhegov

    Electricity- - 1. The manifestation of one of the forms of energy inherent in electric charges, both moving and in a static state. 2. The field of science and technology associated with electrical phenomena. [ST IEC 50(151) 78] Term rubric:… … Encyclopedia of terms, definitions and explanations of building materials

    ELECTRICITY- a set of phenomena in which the existence, movement and interaction (by means of an electromagnetic field) of electric charges are found (see (4)). The doctrine of electricity is one of the main branches of physics ... Great Polytechnic Encyclopedia

This is the ordered movement of certain charged particles. In order to competently use the full potential of electricity, it is necessary to clearly understand all the principles of the device and the operation of electric current. So, let's figure out what work and current power are.

Where does electricity come from?

Despite the apparent simplicity of the question, few are able to give an intelligible answer to it. Of course, nowadays, when technology is developing at an incredible speed, a person does not really think about such elementary things as the principle of electric current. Where does electricity come from? Surely many will answer "Well, from the socket, of course" or simply shrug their shoulders. Meanwhile, it is very important to understand how the current works. This should be known not only to scientists, but also to people who are in no way connected with the world of sciences, for their general versatile development. But to be able to correctly use the principle of current operation is not for everyone.

So, for starters, you should understand that electricity does not arise from nowhere: it is produced by special generators that are located at various power plants. Thanks to the work of rotating the blades of turbines, steam obtained as a result of heating water with coals or oil generates energy, which is subsequently converted into electricity with the help of a generator. The generator is very simple: in the center of the device is a huge and very strong magnet, which causes electric charges to move along copper wires.

How does electricity reach our homes?

After a certain amount of electric current has been obtained with the help of energy (thermal or nuclear), it can be supplied to people. Such a supply of electricity works as follows: in order for electricity to successfully reach all apartments and enterprises, it needs to be “pushed”. And for this you need to increase the force that will do it. It is called the voltage of the electric current. The principle of operation is as follows: the current passes through the transformer, which increases its voltage. Further, the electric current flows through cables installed deep underground or at a height (because the voltage sometimes reaches 10,000 volts, which is deadly for humans). When the current reaches its destination, it must again pass through the transformer, which will now reduce its voltage. Then it passes through the wires to the installed shields in apartment buildings or other buildings.

The electricity carried through the wires can be used thanks to the system of sockets, connecting household appliances to them. Additional wires are carried in the walls, through which electric current flows, and thanks to it, the lighting and all the appliances in the house work.

What is current work?

The energy that an electric current carries in itself is converted over time into light or heat. For example, when we turn on a lamp, the electrical form of energy is converted into light.

Speaking in an accessible language, the work of the current is the action that electricity itself produced. Moreover, it can be very easily calculated by the formula. Based on the law of conservation of energy, we can conclude that Electric Energy did not disappear, it completely or partially passed into another form, while giving off a certain amount of heat. This heat is the work of the current when it passes through the conductor and heats it (heat exchange occurs). This is how the Joule-Lenz formula looks like: A \u003d Q \u003d U * I * t (work is equal to the amount of heat or the product of the current power and the time during which it flowed through the conductor).

What does direct current mean?

Electric current is of two types: alternating and direct. They differ in that the latter does not change its direction, it has two clamps (positive "+" and negative "-") and always starts its movement from "+". And alternating current has two terminals - phase and zero. It is because of the presence of one phase at the end of the conductor that it is also called single-phase.

The principles of the device of single-phase alternating and direct electric current are completely different: unlike direct, the alternating current changes both its direction (forming a flow both from the phase towards zero, and from zero towards the phase), and its magnitude. So, for example, alternating current periodically changes the value of its charge. It turns out that at a frequency of 50 Hz (50 oscillations per second), the electrons change the direction of their movement exactly 100 times.

Where is direct current used?

Direct electric current has some features. Due to the fact that it flows strictly in one direction, it is more difficult to transform it. The following elements can be considered as sources of direct current:

  • batteries (both alkaline and acid);
  • conventional batteries used in small appliances;
  • as well as various devices such as converters.

DC operation

What are its main characteristics? These are work and current power, and both of these concepts are very closely related to each other. Power means the speed of work per unit time (per 1 s). According to the Joule-Lenz law, we find that the work of a direct electric current is equal to the product of the strength of the current itself, the voltage and the time during which the work of the electric field was completed to transfer charges along the conductor.

This is how the formula for finding the work of the current, taking into account Ohm's law of resistance in conductors, looks like: A \u003d I 2 * R * t (work is equal to the square of the current strength multiplied by the value of the resistance of the conductor and once again multiplied by the value of the time for which the work was done).

Today I want to tell you briefly what electricity is.

And then we all study topics on electricity, but we don’t even think about the basics and internal processes of its occurrence.

We will not go deep into the study of the origin and origin of electricity, because. this is very laborious and time consuming, but I think it is necessary to consider the basics.

As you all know from the school physics course, or maybe you don’t know, all bodies consist of the following smallest particles:

  • molecule
  • molecule is made up of atoms
  • an atom is made up of protons, neutrons and electrons

So each of these particles has its own electric charge.

The charge can be positive or negative. Accordingly, a body with a positive charge is always attracted to a body with a negative charge. And two bodies with positive charges, or negative ones, always repel each other.

Opposite charged bodies attract, and similar charged bodies repel, i.e. at this moment one can observe the tendency of these bodies to move.

The intensity and speed of movement of the smallest particles in bodies depends on many of the following factors:

  • temperature
  • deformation
  • friction
  • chemical reactions

Origin and origin of electricity

I mentioned a little earlier that an atom is made up of protons, neutrons, and electrons. So protons (positively charged) and neutrons (neutrally charged) are the very nucleus of the atom. In the image below, see what an atom is made of.

The nucleus of an atom always has a positive charge. The neutron (shown in red) has no electrical charge. Proton (shown blue color) is always positively charged.

Rotating around this nucleus are negatively charged electrons (shown in blue), which can be located from the nucleus to different distance, depending on the material of the substance. Distance, or rather energy level electron, depends on the energy that the electron can absorb from the outside (usually from photons) and radiate. This is done by the electrons of the outer electron shells (the most distant from the nucleus). If the electron “grabs” too much energy, it can leave the atom, which is discussed below. Those. the interaction of an atom with other atoms and other particles occurs due to external electrons.

The charge of an electron is exactly equal to the charge of a proton in magnitude and opposite in sign. Therefore, the atom as a whole is neutral.

The interaction of positive protons of the nucleus with negative electrons is not always constant, and as the electrons move away from the nucleus, it decreases.

Those. it turns out that we can change the number of electrons in atoms.

I mentioned above the methods of influence and factors affecting bodies - these are light, temperature, deformation, friction and various chemical reactions. Now let's talk about each effect in more detail.

Light

For example, under the influence of light radiation on a substance, electrons can fly out of it, which in turn are charged with a positive charge. This phenomenon is called in physics. photoelectric effect. We will talk about it in the following articles. In order not to miss new articles, subscribe to receive notifications about the release of new articles on the site.

The principle of operation of photocells is based on the phenomenon of the photoelectric effect.

Temperature

When exposed to a substance (body) high temperature, electrons removed from the nucleus increase their speed of rotation around the nucleus and at one fine moment they have enough kinetic energy to break away from the nucleus. In this case, the electrons become free particles with negative charges.

This phenomenon in physics is called thermionic emission. This phenomenon is widely used. But more on that in future articles. Follow the site for updates.

Chemical reaction

In chemical reactions, as a result of the transfer of charges, positive and negative poles are formed. This is what batteries are based on.

Friction and deformation

When some bodies are subjected to friction, compression, stretching, or simply deform them, electric charges may appear on their surface. Physicists call this phenomenon the piezoelectric effect, or for short, piezo effect.

Electromotive force

With each method of influence on the body, as a result, small sources of two polarities appear: positive and negative. Each of these polarities has its own value, which is called potential. All of you have probably heard this expression.

Potential is the stored potential energy of a unit amount of electricity located at a certain point in the electric field.

So, the more potential, the more difference between positive and negative poles. This very potential difference is the electromotive force (EMF).

If the circuit is closed, then under the action of the EMF of the source, an electric current will appear in the circuit.

The unit of potential difference is the volt. You can measure the potential difference with a voltmeter, or.


P.S. All of the above methods of generating electricity are just a few examples. Man, on the other hand, created on their basis larger sources of energy, such as generators, batteries, and so on.

Exists invisible force, which flows inside biological objects and inanimate environment. This force is called electricity. What is electricity? This is the energy created by the movement and interaction of charged particles. The term "electricity" comes from the Greek word "electron", which translates as "amber". The ancient Greeks discovered that rubbing this stone produced a small static charge. But people learned to create an electric current for their needs only in early XIX century.

What is electricity and where does it come from

All inanimate objects around us, people and even the air are made up of atoms. An atom is a nucleus around which electrons revolve. This is a negatively charged particle that is attracted to the nucleus, but does not connect with it, as it is in constant motion. Electrons neutralize positively charged particles called protons. Therefore, the atom as a whole is electrically neutral.

It is possible by directed movement of electrons to another atom. Such movement is created using the magnetic field of the generator, friction or chemical reaction in the battery. The process is based on the property of attraction of like-charged particles and repulsion of oppositely charged ones.

As a result of the purposeful movement of charged particles under the influence of an electric field, a current arises. Electricity can be freely transmitted through certain materials called conductors. For example, copper and other metals, water. Materials that cannot conduct current are called insulators. Good insulators are wood, plastic, ebonite.

Static electricity

Static electricity is formed as a result of an imbalance of protons and electrons within an atom, usually as a result of friction. Another reason for the occurrence of this phenomenon is the contact of two dielectrics, between which a potential difference arises.

In everyday life, a person almost every day encounters static electricity. For example, synthetic clothing, when worn and rubbed against the body, accumulates a small charge, and when undressed, you can hear a slight crackle and see sparks. A similar phenomenon occurs when combing hair with a plastic comb. Sources of static electricity in the apartment are household electrical appliances, computers, office equipment. In the process of work, they electrify the smallest dust particles that settle on the floor, furniture, clothing and human skin, and also enter the respiratory tract.

Static electricity adversely affects human health. With prolonged exposure, static charge can cause disturbances in the work of the central nervous and cardiovascular systems, loss of sleep and appetite, irritability, headaches.

The most striking example of the manifestation of static electricity in nature is lightning. A powerful electric discharge is formed as a result of the accumulation of electrons in the lower layers of the atmosphere.

Production and use of electricity

The volume of electricity consumption is increasing every year. It is necessary for heating, lighting rooms, provides work industrial enterprises. All household appliances, without which human life is unthinkable, are also powered by electricity.

The overwhelming amount of electricity for industrial and domestic needs is produced at power plants, which generate electricity using generators and transmit it over long distances through power lines. Depending on the source of energy, power plants are of three types:

  • nuclear - radioactive materials (uranium and plutonium) are used as fuel;
  • thermal - run on gas, diesel fuel or coal;
  • hydroelectric power plants - generator turbines are rotated by a stream of water.

Wind turbines, gas generators, solar panels are used as alternative sources of electricity.