Electrons for our home use

Where do they come from?

When we buy a piece of wire from the Hardware store what we actually by is the supply of electrons that will be placed in our circuit. "Wire" is another name for electron source. Some people think that when they plug an electric kettle into a wall socket, electrons flow from the Power Station, through the power lines and into the kettle. This is not true. Click to see where how power is generated.

The type of current that is provided by generators is called alternating current(ac) and the reason for this will soon become clear. The current provided by a battery is called direct current(dc) and as we discussed earlier, electrons move steadily in a net forward direction.

When a kettle or a light bulb is plugged into a wall socket energy, not electrons, flows from the outlet into the light bulb or kettle. The electrons in the circuit do not move in any direction but simply vibrate about a fixed point. The energy from the outlet causes the electrons, already in the circuit or lamp filament, to vibrate.

So simply put, the Power Stations sell energy to us not electrons. We supply the electrons.

Look at the animation on the right and notice how the electrons do not move in any particular direction but move to and fro about a fixed point.

Alternating current produced by a generator.
If you have ever received a jolt from a badly insulated wire connected to a power outlet, you will have experienced a flow of energy through your body not electrons. The free electrons in your body were made to vibrate with the energy received from the outlet. Small vibrations cause a tingle while more energetic vibrations can kill.

Exercises

Generator

Continue with series circuits

The elastic band provides the tension to automatically close the gate. Metal contacts that complete the circuit and cause the light to glow when the gate is shut The light indicating if the gate is open or closed An electromagnet that activates the lock The bolt that is lifted through a screw eye by the electromagnet The gate
Home
Generator