Electrical Energy Conversion and Measurement
– Electrical energy can be converted into other forms of energy, such as heat, motion, sound, light, and radio waves.
– Conversion of electrical energy occurs with a voltage difference and charged particles.
– Examples of electrical energy conversion include electric heating and computer transistors.
– Electric utilities measure electrical energy using an electricity meter.
– Electrical energy is usually sold by the kilowatt hour.
Electricity Generation
– Electricity generation is the process of producing electrical energy from other forms of energy.
– Michael Faraday discovered the fundamental principle of electricity generation.
– Electric current is generated by the movement of wire or copper between magnets.
– Power stations, fueled by chemical combustion or nuclear fission, are the primary generators of electricity.
Electricity Transmission
– Electricity transmission is the process of transporting electrical energy from power stations to distribution networks.
– Transmission is carried out by the electric power industry.
– High-voltage power lines are used for long-distance transmission.
– Transformers are used to adjust voltage during transmission.
– Efficient transmission infrastructure is essential for reliable electricity supply.
Electricity Distribution
– Electricity distribution involves delivering electrical energy from transmission networks to end consumers.
– Distribution networks consist of substations, transformers, and power lines.
– Distribution companies maintain and operate the distribution infrastructure.
– Voltage is stepped down at substations for residential, commercial, and industrial use.
– Distribution systems ensure equal and reliable access to electricity for all consumers.
Renewable Electricity Generation
– Renewable energy sources like solar photovoltaics and wind power can generate electricity.
– Solar photovoltaics convert sunlight into electrical energy.
– Wind turbines convert the kinetic energy of wind into electrical energy.
– Renewable electricity generation reduces greenhouse gas emissions and dependence on fossil fuels.
– Advances in renewable energy technologies have made them cost-effective and accessible. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_energy
Electrical energy is energy related to forces on electrically charged particles and the movement of those particles (often electrons in wires, but not always). This energy is supplied by the combination of current and electric potential (often referred to as voltage because electric potential is measured in volts) that is delivered by a circuit (e.g., provided by an electric power utility). Motion (current) is not required; for example, if there is a voltage difference in combination with charged particles, such as static electricity or a charged capacitor, the moving electrical energy is typically converted to another form of energy (e.g., thermal, motion, sound, light, radio waves, etc.).
Electrical energy is usually sold by the kilowatt hour (1 kW·h = 3.6 MJ) which is the product of the power in kilowatts multiplied by running time in hours. Electric utilities measure energy using an electricity meter, which keeps a running total of the electric energy delivered to a customer.
Electric heating is an example of converting electrical energy into another form of energy, heat. The simplest and most common type of electric heater uses electrical resistance to convert the energy. There are other ways to use electrical energy. In computers for example, tiny amounts of electrical energy are rapidly moving into, out of, and through millions of transistors, where the energy is both moving (current through a transistor) and non-moving (electric charge on the gate of a transistor which controls the current going through).
