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Electricity is not a human invention, and may be observed in several forms in nature, notably lightning. Many interactions familiar at the macroscopic level, such as touch, friction or chemical bonding, are due to interactions between electric fields on the atomic scale.
The feeling of an electric shock is caused by the stimulation of nerves as the current flows through the human body. The energy stored as static electricity on an object varies depending on the size of the object and its capacitance , the voltage to which it is charged, and the dielectric constant of the surrounding medium.
Light: Energy produced by light being absorbed by photoelectric cells, or solar power. Chemical: Energy produced by chemical reaction in a voltaic cell, such as an electric battery. Pressure: Energy produced by compressing or decompressing specific crystals. Magnetism: Energy produced in a conductor that cuts or is cut by magnetic lines of ...
Electricity generation is the process of generating electric power from sources of primary energy.For utilities in the electric power industry, it is the stage prior to its delivery (transmission, distribution, etc.) to end users or its storage, using for example, the pumped-storage method.
Ancient people were also aware of lightning and static electricity, although they had no idea of the mechanisms behind these phenomena. The Greek philosopher Thales of Miletus discovered around 600 B.C.E. that amber could acquire an electric charge when it was rubbed with cloth, which allowed it to pick up light objects such as pieces of straw.
Electric power transmission, the tools and means of moving electricity far from where it is generated, date back to the late 19th century. They include the movement of electricity in bulk (formally called "transmission") and the delivery of electricity to individual customers ("distribution"). In the beginning, the two terms were used ...
All forms of electricity generation have some form of environmental impact, [1] but coal-fired power is the dirtiest. [2] [3] [4] This page is organized by energy source and includes impacts such as water usage, emissions, local pollution, and wildlife displacement.
Electric utilities measure energy using an electricity meter, which keeps a running total of the electrical energy delivered to a customer. Electric heating is an example of converting electrical energy into thermal energy. The simplest and most common type of electric heater uses electrical resistance to convert the energy. There are other ...