Friday, June 4, 2010

Electrical generator



In this blog we will share some information about the Electricity.


Also,I will use this blog to post assignments and to make announcements.

Please add your comments to verify that you can access this blog with no problems.
References:

(2010). Electricity Retrieved May 19, 2010, from http://www.electricshock.org/

Electricity and Electrical Energy


Electricity is a manufactured product. It is not something you pump out of the ground or mine or collect from the sun or wind. Electric power is manufactured from a rotating machine that we call an electrical generator. After it is generated, (manufactured) it is then delivered through copper wires to where it is utilized


Electricity - most people don't understand what it is. They just turn on the light switch or start the appliance or push the button and something works. It's only when there is no electric power available that we start to consider the importance of it in our daily personal and working lives.

But the invention of the machine to generate power is right next to the invention of the printing press in the list of major contributions to the advancement of human civilization.

Without it, we would be burning wood and coal to heat our homes and businesses and using oil and candles to light our way in the dark. That is the way it was for humans civilization for countless centuries. Only since the invention of the electric generator have humans been able to advance in every aspect of modern life. In fact, modern living is defined by electric power.

References:

Kurtus, R. (2008). Electricity. Retrieved May 19, 2010 from http://science.howstuffworks.com/electricity.htm

 

What is Static Electricity?



Everything we see is made up of tiny little parts called atoms. The atoms are made of even smaller parts. These are called protons, electrons and neutrons. They are very different from each other in many ways. One way they are different is their "charge." Protons have a positive (+) charge. Electrons have a negative (-) charge. Neutrons have no charge

Usually, atoms have the same number of electrons and protons. Then the atom has no charge, it is "neutral." But if you rub things together, electrons can move from one atom to another. Some atoms get extra electrons. They have a negative charge. Other atoms lose electrons. They have a positive charge. When charges are separated like this, it is called static electricity

If two things have different charges, they attract, or pull towards each other. If two things have the same charge, they repel, or push away from each other.

So, why does your hair stand up after you take your hat off? When you pull your hat off, it rubs against your hair. Electrons move from your hair to the hat. Now each of the hairs has the same positive charge. Things with the same charge repel each other. So the hairs try to move away from each other. The farthest they can get is to stand up and away from all the other hairs If you walk across a carpet, electrons move from the rug to you. Now you have extra electrons. Touch a door knob and ZAP! The electrons move from you to the knob. You get a shock

References:

Kurtus, R. (2009). Basics of Static Electricity. Retrieved May 20, 2010 from http://ia.juniata.edu/citation/apa/apa05.htm

Questions:

How does separating materials cause static electricity?
How does pressure or heat cause static electricity?
What is electrostatic induction?

Saturday, May 29, 2010

welcome

In electricity generation, an electric generator is a device that converts mechanical energy to electrical energy. The reverse conversion of electrical energy into mechanical energy is done by a motor; motors and generators have many similarities. A generator forces electrons in the windings to flow through the external electrical circuit. It is somewhat analogous to a water pump, which creates a flow of water but does not create the water inside. The source of mechanical energy may be a reciprocating or turbine steam engine, water falling through a turbine or waterwheel, an internal combustion engine, a wind turbine, a hand crank, compressed air or any other source of mechanical energy
References:

(2010). Electricity Generation. Retrieved April 23, 2010, from http://www.electricityforum.com/electricity-generation.html

Rozenblat, L. (2008). The Electric Generator Guide. Retrieved May 25, 2010 from http://www.generatorguide.net/

Questions:

How is power generated?

What is an Electrical Generator?

what is electricity?




 Electricity is a powerful force of nature. Electricity is everywhere in the universe. Electrical forces hold water, metals, and all other kinds of matter together. You can walk and run because electric signals go through your nerves from your brain to your muscles. The signals tell your muscles where to move. Electricity makes many machines work. Electricity makes bulbs light up and runs motors in saws, fans, hairdryers, and other appliances. The computer you are using works because of electricity.

Electrical Charge

Protons, neutrons and electrons are very different from each other. They have their own properties, or characteristics. One of these properties is called an electrical charge. Protons have what we call a "positive" (+) charge. Electrons have a "negative" (-) charge. Neutrons have no charge, they are neutral. The charge of one proton is equal in strength to the charge of one electron. When the number of protons in an atom equals the number of electrons, the atom itself has no overall charge, it is neutral.
References:

Kurtus, R. (2005). Electric Charge Retrieved April 21, 2010, from http://www.google.com.lb/imgres?imgurl=http://www.school-for-champions.com/science/images/electrical_charges-field_direction.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.school-for-champions.com/science/electrical_charge

Questions:
What does the electric field look like?