Who discovered Electricity?

What is Electricity?

Electricity is a form of energy that makes objects light up or move. The rapid movement of electrons against the protons and neutrons in an atom causes electricity. Electricity reaches our homes through the electrical wires and poles installed outside our houses.

Discovery of Electricity

History of Electricity

No one person can be said to have discovered electricity. Benjamin Franklin supposedly did an experiment to show lightning was electrical. He tied a metal key to a kite and let it fly during a thunderstorm. When electricity from the storm clouds flowed down the wet kite string and hit the metal, he got an electrical shock. He invented the lightning rod, which was the first practical application of electricity.

Alessandro Volta discovered that electricity flowed when pieces of copper and zinc (that were soaked in salt water and separated by cardboard) were connected to a copper wire. He invented the battery.

What would happen if you moved a magnet through a wire? Electricity would be generated in the wire. Michael Faraday discovered this, called electromagnetic induction, and used it to invent the generator.

Similarly, many others contributed to the development of electricity.

How Electricity is generated?

Fuel is burnt to heat water. In turbines (big fans), heat changes water into steam, which spins the engine and electricity is generated.

Types of Electricity

1. Current Electricity – Electrons pass through metals to generate electricity. When you turn off the switch, the flow stops.
2. Static Electricity – When you rub two different objects and create a disturbance of negative and positive charges, electricity is generated. Examples- Lightning, electric eels, rubbing your feet against the carpet and then petting your dog, etc

3 Facts about Electricity

1. Electricity travels at the speed of light.
2. Electricity plays a part in the beating of your heart.
3. Electric eels can produce shocks of 500 volts for hunting and to protect themselves.

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