ELECTRICITY

Electricity is a naturally occurring form of energy that is the

flowing of electrical power or a form of energy produced by the movement of electrons. Electricity can be sent through wires in a flow of tiny particles that produce light, heat, and can run motors. Electricity is made up of negatively charged electrons and positively charged neutrons. The word electricity comes from the word “elektron” the Greek word for amber. 53% of the USA’s electricity sources come from coal, 16%from gas turbine power plants, 21% from nuclear power plants, 7% from hydroelectric turbines, 2% from oil, and 1% from solar power. A steam power plant is where coal, petroleum, or biomass are burned to create steam which goes into the turbine turns the copper wire creating an electric current. A geothermal power plant is a steam power plant. Steam comes out of the ground and goes into a turbine, powering it and making it spin. After the steam is done spinning the turbine it is re-injected into the ground. A gas turbine power plant is a plant where fuels are burnt to create hot gasses, which go through the turbine creating an electric current. A nuclear power plant where nuclear reactions are used to create warm water which turns into steam and powers a turbine making an electric current. In a wind turbine the wind pushes against the turbines blades causing the rotor to spin making an electric current. In a hydroelectric turbine flowing or falling water pushes against the turbines blades causing an electric current. You can get electricity through conductors, which are substances that allow electricity to pass through them. The best kinds of conductors are silver, gold, and platinum but are very expensive. Other good conductors are copper, iron, steel, mercury, magnesium, nickel, and seawater.