Definition and Properties of Electricity
– Electricity is a set of physical phenomena associated with the presence and motion of matter that has electric charge.
– It is related to magnetism and both are part of the phenomenon of electromagnetism.
– Common phenomena related to electricity include lightning, static electricity, electric heating, and electric discharges.
– The presence of electric charge produces an electric field.
– The movement of electric charges creates an electric current and a magnetic field.
Applications of Electricity
– Electric power is used to energize equipment in various industries.
– Electronics deals with electrical circuits that involve active electrical components.
– Electrical phenomena are used in communication technologies.
– Electricity is essential for transportation systems.
– It plays a crucial role in lighting and heating applications.
History of Electricity
– Ancient cultures were aware of shocks from electric fish.
– Thales of Miletus made observations on static electricity around 600 BCE.
– The Parthians may have had knowledge of electroplating.
– Benjamin Franklin conducted extensive research on electricity in the 18th century.
– Michael Faraday’s discoveries formed the foundation of electric motor technology.
Development of Electrical Theory
– William Gilbert wrote ‘De Magnete’ in 1600, studying electricity and magnetism.
– The word ‘electricus’ was coined to refer to the property of attracting small objects after being rubbed.
– Otto von Guericke, Robert Boyle, Stephen Gray, and C. F. du Fay contributed to electrical research in the 17th and 18th centuries.
– Benjamin Franklin’s experiments with lightning demonstrated the electrical nature of lightning.
– Michael Faraday’s discoveries laid the groundwork for understanding electric motor technology.
Impact of Electricity
– Electricity transformed industry and society during the Second Industrial Revolution.
– It is now the backbone of modern industrial society.
– Electricity enables various applications such as transport, heating, lighting, communications, and computation.
– The rapid expansion of electrical technology has brought significant advancements.
– Electrical power has become essential for the functioning of modern society. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric
Electricity is the set of physical phenomena associated with the presence and motion of matter possessing an electric charge. Electricity is related to magnetism, both being part of the phenomenon of electromagnetism, as described by Maxwell's equations. Common phenomena are related to electricity, including lightning, static electricity, electric heating, electric discharges and many others.
The presence of either a positive or negative electric charge produces an electric field. The motion of electric charges is an electric current and produces a magnetic field. In most applications, Coulomb's law determines the force acting on an electric charge. Electric potential is the work done to move an electric charge from one point to another within an electric field, typically measured in volts.
Electricity plays a central role in many modern technologies, serving in electric power where electric current is used to energise equipment, and in electronics dealing with electrical circuits involving active components such as vacuum tubes, transistors, diodes and integrated circuits, and associated passive interconnection technologies.
The study of electrical phenomena dates back to antiquity, with theoretical understanding progressing slowly until the 17th and 18th centuries. The development of the theory of electromagnetism in the 19th century marked significant progress, leading to electricity's industrial and residential application by electrical engineers by the century's end. This rapid expansion in electrical technology at the time was the driving force for the Second Industrial Revolution, with electricity's versatility driving transformations in industry and society. Electricity is integral to applications spanning transport, heating, lighting, communications, and computation, making it the foundation of modern industrial society.
