- Messages
- 22,120
- Location
- Birmingham
Guide to Electricity
Most electricity is manufactured at power stations, where it is fed into wires which are then wound onto large drums for delivery to the customer.
Some electricity, however, does not need to go round in wires. That which is used for lightning and in portable radios, for example. This kind of electricity is not generated, but just lies around loose.
Electricity makes a low humming noise. This noise may be pitched at different levels for use in door bells, telephones and electric organs.
Electricity must be earthed. That is to say, it has to be connected to the ground before it can function, except in the case of aeroplanes, which have separate arrangements.
Although electricity does not leak from an empty light socket, that light socket is nevertheless live if you happen to put your finger in it when the switch is on.
Electricity is made up of two ingredients, positive and negative. One ingredient travels along a wire covered in brown plastic, and the other along a wire covered in blue plastic. When these two wires meet in what we call a plug, the two different ingredients mix together to form electricity.
Electricity may be stored in batteries. Big batteries do not necessarily hold more electricity than small batteries. In big ones the electricity is just shovelled in, while in small ones, the electricity is packed flat.
With the invention of coloured electricity, so came a great easing of traffic problems. Hitherto policemen were used at road junctions.
An even bigger breakthrough came in 1929 with the invention of Negative electricity, this resulted in the electric refrigerator.
A few notes on the functions of various electrical apparatus
The Light Switch
The lever controls a small vice or clamp which grips the wires very tightly and thus prevents the electricity from passing that point when the switch is in the off position.
The Light Bulb
This is one of the few times when we can see electricity. This takes the form of a tiny spark magnified many hundreds of times by the curved glass of the bulb. Unfortunately, these bulbs have a limited life, as any one can tell you, because the heat generated by the magnified spark causes the oxygen in the bulb to condense into moisture which then quenches the spark.
The Fuse Box
This is where all the wires in the house come together and join (or fuse) with the wires from the power station. This is prone to failure due to the fact that the manufacturers of this device put in wires that are too thin.
(NB, There is a brand of chicken wire that is an excellent substitute for fuse wire and much more reliable. Use this and even though your spin drier bursts into flame, your fuse box will not let you down.)
Most electricity is manufactured at power stations, where it is fed into wires which are then wound onto large drums for delivery to the customer.
Some electricity, however, does not need to go round in wires. That which is used for lightning and in portable radios, for example. This kind of electricity is not generated, but just lies around loose.
Electricity makes a low humming noise. This noise may be pitched at different levels for use in door bells, telephones and electric organs.
Electricity must be earthed. That is to say, it has to be connected to the ground before it can function, except in the case of aeroplanes, which have separate arrangements.
Although electricity does not leak from an empty light socket, that light socket is nevertheless live if you happen to put your finger in it when the switch is on.
Electricity is made up of two ingredients, positive and negative. One ingredient travels along a wire covered in brown plastic, and the other along a wire covered in blue plastic. When these two wires meet in what we call a plug, the two different ingredients mix together to form electricity.
Electricity may be stored in batteries. Big batteries do not necessarily hold more electricity than small batteries. In big ones the electricity is just shovelled in, while in small ones, the electricity is packed flat.
With the invention of coloured electricity, so came a great easing of traffic problems. Hitherto policemen were used at road junctions.
An even bigger breakthrough came in 1929 with the invention of Negative electricity, this resulted in the electric refrigerator.
A few notes on the functions of various electrical apparatus
The Light Switch
The lever controls a small vice or clamp which grips the wires very tightly and thus prevents the electricity from passing that point when the switch is in the off position.
The Light Bulb
This is one of the few times when we can see electricity. This takes the form of a tiny spark magnified many hundreds of times by the curved glass of the bulb. Unfortunately, these bulbs have a limited life, as any one can tell you, because the heat generated by the magnified spark causes the oxygen in the bulb to condense into moisture which then quenches the spark.
The Fuse Box
This is where all the wires in the house come together and join (or fuse) with the wires from the power station. This is prone to failure due to the fact that the manufacturers of this device put in wires that are too thin.
(NB, There is a brand of chicken wire that is an excellent substitute for fuse wire and much more reliable. Use this and even though your spin drier bursts into flame, your fuse box will not let you down.)