Activity #1: How Is Electricity Generated and Transmitted?

How is electricity generated?

There are a few ways to generate electricity.

1.    By moving a magnet around a conductor

2.    By putting two different conductors into salt water

3.    By touching two different conductors together and shining light on them

4.    Spinning magnet around a coil of wire

A generator produces electricity. The simple generator can be just by spinning magnet around a coil of wire. There are different types of power used to generate electricity. However, all of them, except for solar power, involve spinning wire between magnets. The examples are steam turbine generator, gas turbine generator, and nuclear power. To produce big electricity, we need large generators. Large generators are located in this place called power plants.

1. Steam turbine generator: Steam will be heated until a temperature of 1,000°F. This steam will then turn the turbines in the generator.

2. Gas turbine generator: air is compressed and mixed with fuel. The fuel is burn and the mixture of air and fuel will move its way through the turbine blades, making it spin. The spinning turbine will turn the generator.

3. Nuclear power: Uranium will release neutrons that will hit other uranium atoms, which will make them split and release heat. This heat will then produce steam that will turn the turbine in the generator.

4. Solar power: A special solar panel called photovoltaic cells contains silicon. This panel will produce electricity when it receives sunlight.

How is electricity transmitted?

Here is how electricity goes from power plants to our homes.

1.    Electricity is produced in power plants. Power plants produce electricity of about 25,000 volts.

2.   Electricity will then go to a transformer, which will boost the voltage up to 400.000 volts. With high voltage, the electricity can be transferred more efficiently.

3.    Then, the power lines go to substations. Substations are usually near business area, factories or homes. In a substation, there is another transformer. Here, the transformer change the voltage from very high to low.

4.    In the electricity pole, there is another little transformer. This transformer will reduce the voltage of the electricity again, to about 220 volts for large tools and 110 volts for small appliances.

Bibliography:

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"How do we make Electricity? - The Children's University of Manchester." How do we make Electricity? - The Children's University of Manchester. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Nov. 2013. <http://www.childrensuniversity.manchester.ac.uk/interactives/science/energy/electricity/>.

"How a Gas Turbine Works." - Renewable Energy. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Nov. 2013. <http://www.ge-flexibility.com/power-generation-basics/how-a-gas-turbine-works/index.html>.

“Steam Turbines:A look into how a steam turbine functions.” University of Notre Dame. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2013.

http://www3.nd.edu/~techrev/Archive/Fall2001/a5.html

"The Energy Story - Chapter 7: Electricity Transmission System." The Energy Story - Chapter 7: Electricity Transmission System. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2013. <http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/story/chapter07.html>.