The Science of Electricity Explained

Science Holic
Jul 1
3 min read

Author: Eric Lin

Editor: Elizabeth Li

Artist: Emily Tai

In 2023, the world used up 29471 Terawatt-hours of electricity. To put this into perspective, that is the equivalent of powering 2.9 billion 10 watt light bulbs for 1000 years nonstop or being able to drive 196 trillion miles using a Tesla Model 3. Electricity consumption continues to grow year after year as more of the world modernizes and energy demands rise, yet even though electricity is a core facet of modern life, many don’t know what exactly electricity is, nor where it comes from.

To begin to understand electricity, you need to first know what an atom is and its composition. Atoms are the building blocks of the universe from which everything is made of. At the center of an atom sits a nucleus that is made up of particles called protons and neutrons. Protons carry a positive electrical charge and are used to define the atomic number of an element, whilst neutrons hold no charge; hence, the new neutron, as they are “neutral”. The nucleus of an atom is relatively small compared to the atom, with a good analogy being that if the nucleus of an atom were the size of a tennis ball, the atom would be the size of a large sports stadium. Thus, the atom is mostly empty space. If you could see the atom with the naked eye, it would look like small clusters of balls surrounded by giant invisible bubbles called shells. On the surface of these shells would be electrons, which are constantly spinning and repelling each other. The electrons and protons of an atom are attracted to each other, with electrons having a negative charge and protons having a positive charge, causing the electron to orbit the nucleus similar to how a moon may orbit a planet. Electrons closest to the nucleus have the strongest force of attraction, while the ones furthest away on the atom’s outer shells have the weakest force of attraction. By applying force to these electrons on the outer shell, you can push them out of their orbits, and this movement of electrons is what electricity is. To put it simply, electricity is the movement of electrons.

There are many ways humans generate electricity, but the most basic process is using turbines in generators. Inside the generator is a magnet and a wire coil, usually made of copper. The magnet is connected to a turbine, and the turbine is powered by an energy source--like steam, wind, or water--that spins the magnet. When the magnet spins, it pushes electrons through the wire, creating electricity. The electricity is then transferred through the power line to homes and businesses to be used. Whether it is used to heat up your breakfast or to power computers to run complex simulations, electricity can be found in all aspects of life and understanding what electricity is may bring new appreciation for the innovations of modern technology.