ELECTRICITY: THE MOST IMPORTANT INNOVATION IN HISTORY

By: Ryan Beuttel

Electricity’s Importance Electricity makes your life at home easier and

safer, no cooking over a fire, no lanterns for light, heating and cooling for comfort, and it powers entertainment such as TV and the Internet.

Industry relies on electricity to drive machinery that in the past would have been powered by people, animals, or perhaps a steam engine. The electric machinery is more reliable, cleaner, and safer than manually or engine driven machines.

A world without electricity would be a dark, smelly, dangerous place with many more dangerous jobs, like the US or England before the Industrial Revolution.

Who Discovered Electricity?

Ben Franklin is often credited with the discovery because he proved lightning is a form of electricity.

Electricity, however, was known as early as 600 BC in Ancient Greece, it was known that Amber became charged when rubbed.

An Englishman, William Gilbert, in 1600 described the phenomenon of Electrification and used the word ‘Electricity’ for the first time.

Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) is widely known for discovering electricity in 1752.

Franklin is best known for his many inventions and for flying a kite in a thunderstorm (this is how he “discovered” electricity).

He was famous during his lifetime, for being one of the Founding Fathers of the USA, an educated scientist, and a statesman.

What is Electricity?

Electricity is defined as “A physical phenomenon associated with stationary or moving protons and electrons,” or “energy made available by the flow of electric current through a conductor.”

Today, most of us know it as the energy source that powers appliances and lightbulbs.

There are many types of electricity, such as lightning and static electricity.

How is Electricity Generated?

Some species of animals (like the electric eel) generate it naturally.

It can also be generated cleanly by solar, wind, and water (hydroelectric).

Most of it is generated in power plants that burn coal, natural gas, or oil. The burning of these fuels release heat, which generally makes steam that turns a turbine/generator set.

It can also be generated in a nuclear power plant, where heat energy comes from “splitting the atom”.

How is Electricity Used Today?

Large cities use it to make the night bright.

We use it to light our homes and help us cook and keep things cold.

It can also be used as a source of heat and cooling.

Industry uses electricity to operate factories and drive machinery.

How is Electricity Used Today? (continued)

Electricity is also used to power cars, although electric cars take awhile to fully charge. They’re also quite expensive.

Powers technology: computers, printers, servers.

Powers household appliances, televisions, radios, and iPods.

Can Electricity harm our environment?

The answer to that is: Yes. Not so much the electricity itself, but the generation of it and the devices that it powers can harm the environment.

Some ways to get electricity can help pollute, like burning coal at power plants. This gives off “greenhouse gases” like CO2, which contributes to global warming.

In some large cities, no starlight can be seen. This form of pollution is called light pollution. Bright lights can cause some nocturnal species to

be out at abnormal hours, causing them to act strange, and possibly die, if out repeatedly.

Facts about Electricity

Some minerals can generate electricity (like quartz ), as long as the temperature is right.

Electricity was a DISCOVERY, not an invention. Can reduce the risk of fire in homes and in

buildings. For some weird reason, large quantities of

electricity, unlike other forms of energy, can’t be stored;(small amounts can be stored in batteries or in small devices called capacitors)

A kilowatt-hour is how electricity is measured.

Two Inventions Made For Electricity

The lightning rod and the light bulb are possibly the most important inventions that are useful for electricity.

Lightning rods were developed to protect buildings from lighting strikes. They were invented by Ben Franklin.

Light bulbs were a way to harness electricity to use as a light. Thomas Edison invented them. Light bulbs also give off a tiny amount of heat, and were discovered while Mr. Edison was looking for new types of heaters.

Today, we have several types of lightbulbs; some of which (LED and compact fluorescent) use much less energy to produce the same amount of light

How much does Electricity cost?

The cost is different for how it’s used. For example, a 100 watt light bulb costs about $0.50 per month.

Depending on how you use it, you could get a huge bill (unless you have solar panels to generate your own electricity).

Another factor that determines how much electricity costs is how it’s made. Solar power is a clean way to generate it, but it’s expensive (and not available at night!). Burning coal is much less expensive, but it pollutes the atmosphere.

Cost of Electricity(Continued)

The cost of electricity depends on where you live, how much of it you use, and even when you use it. Different tasks add to the amount you use, like laundry, fridge and freezer, cooking, etc…

Many power plants generate electricity, most of which is sold.

If you keep your TV on for at least 8 hours a day, you add close to $4.80 to your electric bill.

Some studies show that it costs between $7-$17 to run the refridgerator each month.

Transmission of Electricity Electricity is generated in power plants. Next, it goes through power cables. These cables can go above or below

ground. The electricity runs through the power

cables and makes it into homes and other buildings.

Underground transmission has high disadvantages, like taking days or weeks to fix if they break. But, you don’t have to see huge power lines.

The Business of Electricity

In 2008, approximately $3.4 TRILLION dollars worth of electricity was sold in the United States.

The average kilowatt hour cost was about $0.12. In PA, as part of “Deregulation” after January 1st,

2010, each home can choose their electricity ‘Generation’ supplier (your local company will still handle transmission, customer service, and billing)

As part of deregulation, most Pennsylvanians will see cost increases of 20-30%

Alternative suppliers include PP&L, Dominion Energy, and others

THE END