Kids Zone

Fun Facts About Electricity

Electricity travels at 186,000 miles a second — close to the speed of light!
Electricity is always trying to get to the ground.
To get there, electricity will always take the shortest, easiest path it can find. (The thing that provides the path is said to be 'grounded.')
If it flows through living things, it can hurt or even kill them.
Conductors provide easy paths for electricity. Some conduct electricity more easily than others.
Insulators provide difficult paths for electricity. Some provide more difficult paths than others.

Electricity is the flow of current. Due to this flow, a device such as an electric bulb glows.
Click the switch 'ON', to see the bulb glow.
Click the switch 'OFF', to stop the flow of current.
Observation: The current flows inside the bulb. Also, current is available in the circuit when the switch is on. When the switch is off, there is no flow of current. So the bulb stops glowing.
By the use of electricity we can drive motors, electric fans and many electric appliances such as a toaster, a television, an electric iron etc.

Electricity is produced in Power Generating Stations. It is produced by rotating thick coils of wire inside very huge magnets.
We transmit electricity through wires known as 'Transmission Lines' which are strung on towers.
These transmission lines terminate in various intermediate places known as 'Sub Stations'.
Here the heavy voltage is reduced through a device known as 'Transformers'.
Then from the transformers, electricity is transmitted to the load ends (streets, houses, factories, etc.) via overhead or underground electric lines.

It is basically a closed circuit through which electricity flows. We close the circuit with switches.
When we switch on any electric appliance (like an electric fan), it works (the fan rotates).
When we switch off, the electric appliance is detached from the electric circuit. So there is no flow of electricity and the appliance stops working.

Electricity travels through 'Conductors'. A conductor is a material through which electricity flows easily.
Metal is a good conductor, which is why wires are made of metal.
Water is a great conductor of electricity — and since the human body is mostly water, electricity can travel through you!
Caution: If electricity travels through you, you may be injured or even killed.
Electricity travels at the speed of light (186,000 miles per second). It is faster than you can react, so always stay safe!

Insulators are used to keep electricity in power lines.
Materials like glass, porcelain, and plastic are used as insulators in power lines.
If the insulator breaks, the electric line may fall and energize the area around it. Touching it can hurt or kill you.
Even if a wire falls on your vehicle, it may energize it. Do not touch the wire and the ground at the same time.
Rubber and plastic insulators are used around wires to keep electricity inside.
If insulation is broken or worn, electricity can escape and shock you.
Overloaded outlets can overheat the insulators, potentially causing shocks or fire hazards.

When electricity travels through you, it can hurt or kill you.
Electricity looks for the easiest path to the ground.
If you're in that path, electricity will go through you to the ground, causing electric shock.
Stay away from downed wires and any exposed or damaged cables.