Electricity BasicsElectricity Basics

AtomsAtoms

Proton: + charge: determines elementProton: + charge: determines element Neutron: +/-: varies in number (isotopes)Neutron: +/-: varies in number (isotopes) Electron: - charge: really tiny, bonds, Electron: - charge: really tiny, bonds,

moves, added and removed from atomsmoves, added and removed from atoms

ElectricityElectricity Movement of electronsMovement of electrons

Usually – to +Usually – to +

Currents: Separation of charges; FlowCurrents: Separation of charges; Flow A secondary resource- must use primary A secondary resource- must use primary

energy source to produce electricityenergy source to produce electricity Not renewable or non-renewableNot renewable or non-renewable

2 Currents2 Currents

Direct: Constant stream of charges in one Direct: Constant stream of charges in one directiondirection BatteriesBatteries Tesla (batteries)Tesla (batteries) EdisonEdison

Circuits/Vocab video

2 Currents2 Currents

Alternating- current reverses directionsAlternating- current reverses directions Frequency of changes measured in hertzFrequency of changes measured in hertz Cheaper to produce than DCCheaper to produce than DC Easier to transmit over distances Easier to transmit over distances WestinghouseWestinghouse

Not really CurrentNot really Current

Static: build up of e-’s in one areaStatic: build up of e-’s in one area ““jump ship” when too crowded and a path is jump ship” when too crowded and a path is

availableavailable Slippers against the floorSlippers against the floor Balloons sticking to wall or pulling hair away from Balloons sticking to wall or pulling hair away from

headhead

Odd FactsOdd Facts

AC/DC’s name is off the back of a sewing AC/DC’s name is off the back of a sewing machinemachine

Westinghouse and Edison couldn’t stand each Westinghouse and Edison couldn’t stand each other and fought every chance they had about if other and fought every chance they had about if we should use direct or alternating currentwe should use direct or alternating current

Tesla & Westinghouse https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KC6VTeySeCc

http://www.pbs.org/tesla/ll/ll_warcur.html AC/DC video, , Voltage, Current, and Power Explained.flv

Edison and Westinghous https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OzwoDnekWQ

Moving E-’sMoving E-’s

Insulator-Insulator- resists the flow of electrons resists the flow of electrons Conductor-Conductor- allows e-’s to flow allows e-’s to flow

Super of each is very efficient at keeping or Super of each is very efficient at keeping or encouraging e-’s to moveencouraging e-’s to move

Electric forces: how much + pulls on –Electric forces: how much + pulls on – E-’s too small to pull on protonsE-’s too small to pull on protons Closer together the greater the forceCloser together the greater the force Much like magnetic fields Much like magnetic fields

FaradayFaraday

Circuits: Loops of moving e-’sCircuits: Loops of moving e-’s

Energy source (battery)Energy source (battery) Load (appliance, light bulb, etc)Load (appliance, light bulb, etc)

ClosedClosed: Follow from one point through the : Follow from one point through the loop without breaking linkloop without breaking link ONON

OpenOpen: Gap in loop (no e-’s flow) : Gap in loop (no e-’s flow) OFFOFF

Series CircuitSeries Circuit All load on one loopAll load on one loop

Must all be working for Must all be working for closed circuitclosed circuit

E-’s flow through each loadE-’s flow through each load Current reduced with each Current reduced with each

new loadnew load Light dims if addedLight dims if added

Older Christmas lights are Older Christmas lights are perfect exampleperfect example

Parallel CircuitParallel Circuit Several ways for e-’s to Several ways for e-’s to

keep closed loopkeep closed loop One load may be broken, not One load may be broken, not

working, etc and rest of working, etc and rest of circuit will still workcircuit will still work

E-’s flow increases with each E-’s flow increases with each load addedload added New path each loadNew path each load Current increasesCurrent increases

Easier to “overload” circuit Easier to “overload” circuit (dangerous)(dangerous)

Safety DevicesSafety Devices

SwitchSwitch: opens circuit : opens circuit Safety and convenienceSafety and convenience

FuseFuse: one time use, melts wire to open circuit if too : one time use, melts wire to open circuit if too much current is flowingmuch current is flowing

Circuit breakerCircuit breaker: reusable, opens circuit with safety : reusable, opens circuit with safety switch if too much current is flowingswitch if too much current is flowing

Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI):Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI): Outlets near Outlets near water (kitchens/bathrooms) to open circuits faster water (kitchens/bathrooms) to open circuits faster than fuse/cb (water is conductor)than fuse/cb (water is conductor)

http://www.electrickids.com.au/wps/wcm/connect/electrickids/electrickids/home/lesson2/video1

Measuring ElectricityMeasuring Electricity

CurrentCurrent: e-’s flowing btwn 2 pts. With a : e-’s flowing btwn 2 pts. With a difference in pressuredifference in pressure Amperes (amps)Amperes (amps)

After Ampere (French scientist)After Ampere (French scientist)

VoltageVoltage: Pressure to make e-’s move: Pressure to make e-’s move VoltsVolts

After Volta (Italian scientist)After Volta (Italian scientist) AA battery 1.5V, Car battery 12V, Wall outlet 120VAA battery 1.5V, Car battery 12V, Wall outlet 120V

ResistanceResistance: Slows flow of e-’s: Slows flow of e-’s Ohms (yes, after Ohm, German scientist)Ohms (yes, after Ohm, German scientist)

Thickness of wireThickness of wire MaterialMaterial TemperatureTemperature

PowerPower: Measure of rate of doing work: Measure of rate of doing work Watts (after James Watt- steam engine)Watts (after James Watt- steam engine) Kilowatts more commonly used (Watt too Kilowatts more commonly used (Watt too

small) = 1000 Wattsmall) = 1000 Watt Power = voltage X currentPower = voltage X current

EnergyEnergy: Power used over time: Power used over time Watt hour (more commonly kWh)Watt hour (more commonly kWh) Energy = power X timeEnergy = power X time

60 watt light bulb for 5 hours= 60 watt light bulb for 5 hours= 60W X 5 hrs= 300 Wh (or .3 kWh)60W X 5 hrs= 300 Wh (or .3 kWh)

Analogy Video

Power CalculationsPower Calculations

Voltage= current x resistance (volts)Voltage= current x resistance (volts) Power = Voltage x current (watts)Power = Voltage x current (watts) Energy = power x time (watt hours)Energy = power x time (watt hours)

Energy 101 Video

Making and Distributing ElectricityMaking and Distributing Electricity

PlantPlant TransformerTransformer

Steps up voltage (Less loss on lines)Steps up voltage (Less loss on lines) Transmission linesTransmission lines

AluminumAluminum Interconnected- one takes on the load of another in failureInterconnected- one takes on the load of another in failure

Step Down TransformerStep Down Transformer Substations along the linesSubstations along the lines

Fenced in area with lines and building, distribution stationFenced in area with lines and building, distribution station Final voltage reductionFinal voltage reduction HomeHome

3 wires, 2 of which go to circuit breaker/fuse box3 wires, 2 of which go to circuit breaker/fuse box Meter tracks changesMeter tracks changes

In a Power Plant (mostly)In a Power Plant (mostly)

In US, large, centrally located plantsIn US, large, centrally located plants Coal, nuclear and Natural GasCoal, nuclear and Natural Gas

Superheat water to steam (well above boiling point so there Superheat water to steam (well above boiling point so there is extra pressure)is extra pressure)

TurbineTurbine Straight motion of steam to circular motion Straight motion of steam to circular motion Blades TurnBlades Turn

Connected to generatorConnected to generator Large Magnet surrounded by copper wireLarge Magnet surrounded by copper wire Blades spin, rotate magnet, move electrons, produces currentBlades spin, rotate magnet, move electrons, produces current

Cooling TowersCooling Towers Allow water to cool and condense, some heat trapped to Allow water to cool and condense, some heat trapped to

produce energyproduce energy

Utility Company Goals/ Lingo Utility Company Goals/ Lingo

Reliability- provide electricity 100% of the timeReliability- provide electricity 100% of the time No black or brown outsNo black or brown outs + 15-20% anticipated peak demands+ 15-20% anticipated peak demands

Capacity- total electricity utility company has on Capacity- total electricity utility company has on line and ready to deliverline and ready to deliver

Base-load power- generated around the clockBase-load power- generated around the clock Base-load stations usually run at full capacityBase-load stations usually run at full capacity

Peak Demand- noon to 6 p.m., more generators Peak Demand- noon to 6 p.m., more generators in use, some powered by gas or diesel- higher in use, some powered by gas or diesel- higher costcost

Video: Electricity Basics

Power Pools- Increased reliability in being Power Pools- Increased reliability in being linked together to share powerlinked together to share power North America has 9 regional power poolsNorth America has 9 regional power pools

Demand Side Management- Control Demand Side Management- Control when/how much power is used by people when/how much power is used by people by adding incentives (higher cost for peak by adding incentives (higher cost for peak power)power)

Cogeneration- Manufacturing a product Cogeneration- Manufacturing a product and producing electricityand producing electricity

Electricity CostElectricity Cost

50% generation, 20% transmission, 30% 50% generation, 20% transmission, 30% local distributionlocal distribution Depends on energy sourceDepends on energy source Costs to build plant Costs to build plant Plant efficiencyPlant efficiency

Currently 35% range, in 1900, only 4% efficientCurrently 35% range, in 1900, only 4% efficient

1992 Energy Policy Act1992 Energy Policy Act independent power producersindependent power producers Choice in providers- DeregulationChoice in providers- Deregulation

Is there a significance difference between 1971 and 2009?

What energy categories have increased electricity production?

What have decreased?

Which pieces of the pie are renewable? Non-renewable? Alternative?

What will our future be?

Video ClipsVideo Clips

Thomas Edison and the Electric LightThomas Edison and the Electric Light Time Magazine, (length 3:49)Time Magazine, (length 3:49)

http://www.time.com/time/video/player/0,32068,102212326001_2000828,00.html

Westinghouse and EdisonWestinghouse and Edison Science Matters (length 4:36)Science Matters (length 4:36)

http://classroomclips.org/video/4370

Home Electrical Safety (3min)Home Electrical Safety (3min)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XA_Ukj026w

Go Wireless (10 min)Go Wireless (10 min)http://www.ted.com/talks/http://www.ted.com/talks/

eric_giler_demos_wireless_electricity.html??eric_giler_demos_wireless_electricity.html??utm_medium=social&source=email&utm_sourceutm_medium=social&source=email&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=ios-share=email&utm_campaign=ios-share

The Science of Lightning (5 ½ min)The Science of Lightning (5 ½ min)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66lqGmC-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66lqGmC-mLYmLY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyygaemPt9s (2min- from Discovery’s v=WyygaemPt9s (2min- from Discovery’s Raging Planet)Raging Planet)

Electricity and Magnetism VideoElectricity and Magnetism Video

How is Electricity Transmitted? How is Electricity Transmitted? Follow Electricity's Journey Follow Electricity's Journey Through the Transmission System (3:24)Through the Transmission System (3:24)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQg2Y0kp2vIhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQg2Y0kp2vI

Joe Genius- Backyard ScienceJoe Genius- Backyard Science http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2F8kRvjhTYhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2F8kRvjhTY 9min9min

The Missing link to Renewable EnergyThe Missing link to Renewable Energy https://www.ted.com/talks/https://www.ted.com/talks/

donald_sadoway_the_missing_link_to_renewable_endonald_sadoway_the_missing_link_to_renewable_energyergy