The average person uses a lot of electricity in the many things they do every day. We are used to being able to turn on a light, watch the television, use our mobile devices, and stream music or videos. Because electricity is so much a part of our lives, we should know something about it.
Although electricity was discovered early on, it wasn’t until the invention of a communication method known as Morse Code and the telegraph that electricity made any social change.
Using the telegraph, people could send dots and dashes that converted to words and phrases across vast distances in minutes. After the telegraph, the telephone as well as radio expanded our communication methods using electricity.
The other major invention that effected the world was the electric light. At each step, electricity changed the way we do things, how we communicate, and how we live. Today we use more electricity in almost everything that we do.
Home Electricity
It’s hard to believe that homes built even in the 1920s were often constructed without the thought of electricity. In some cases, electricity had to be added after the home was built and they ran the electrical wiring on the inside walls of homes.
Today we have electricity in most homes and the power is supplied by hubs that lead to major power plants. Each of the power plants are often connected in networks around the country.
Our home has an electric meter that registers how much electricity we use. Each time we turn on a light or watch television it adds to the meter, and we get a bill from the electric company every month for all of the use.
Electric power is brought to a house by a series of cables that lead to home where we can access the electricity through the sockets in the walls that are connected with wires.
These are the plugs that we use to power the lights, televisions, video games, chargers, air conditioning, fans, and ovens.
Batteries
Batteries offer a form of electricity. A battery makes use of chemicals to store up electricity that can be used to power things like flashlights, cell phones, and toys. Batteries have a limited amount of stored electricity and they will run out of power.
Some batteries have to be replaced with new ones while other batteries have the ability to be recharged. If you have to replace batteries, always remember to recycle the old ones. Batteries contain chemicals that can be dangerous.
More and More Uses of Electricity
As the world is turning away from the use of polluting fossil fuels we are seeing more electrical use. Some of this electricity is being generated with renewable and sustainable energy which means it’s healthier for the planet and for all of us.
Cars are changing from the old gas fuel so that some are listed as “hybrids” and use both gas and electricity, while others only operate using electricity.
These care have to have large batteries to get them started and to store the power to keep them going. Electric cars need to have the batteries recharged and we are seeing more charging stations being built around the country.
Electricity can also be used to make magnetism. There are new transportation high speed trains that don’t use the old fashioned methods but instead operate using magnetism.
The “float” in a magnetic balance that lets a small amount of energy push them to faster speeds. Electric motors also generate magnetism that can turn motors for all kinds of uses.
We mentioned renewable and sustainable energy above, and electricity can be created using solar, wind, and water power. Each of these exist in nature and some can make enough electricity to power entire towns.
Fun Facts about Electricity Uses
- The city of San Francisco, California has 25% of its energy generated by wind power.
- We have electricity inside of our bodies that communicates to our heart to keep it beating.
- The first electricity that was used inside a home was only used for lights.
- The two most famous scientists known for electricity were Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison.
- Edison and Tesla had arguments about which form of electricity was best for home use: AC or DC.
- Nikola Tesla’s concept for the use of AC power is the kind that most homes use today.
- An electric eel can produce a shock of nearing 500 volts.
Q&A
What invention launched the wide use of electricity around the world?
the telegraph
What was the first electricity for homes used for?
lighting
Which famous scientist’s theory of alternating current do we use for electricity in our homes today?
Nikola Tesla
How does the electric company keep track of the electric use in a home or business?
a meter
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