Continue with Microsoft TeamsUsing Electricity
Vocabulary
Read the vocabulary terms to understand the reading better.
Electricity
Electricity is a form of energy that has positive and negative forms that occur naturally (such as in lightning) or can be produced (such as in a generator) and is the result of electrons moving and interacting together.
Generator
Generators are machines that transform one form of energy into another; for example, changing mechanical energy such as wind or steam into electrical energy.
Natural Gas
Natural gas is a form of liquid fuel that is found underground in petroleum deposits and is burned as fuel or burned to produce electricity.
Power Plant
A power plant is a group of buildings, equipment, and machinery that are used to generate electricity from another source of energy such as a hydroelectric dam.
Transmission Lines
Transmission lines are power lines or cables that transmit electricity from a generating station to electrical towers and poles, that then transmit the electricity through electrical wires to houses and other buildings.
Electricity is a form of energy that we use in many ways every day. You probably use electricity much more than you realize. Look at the pictures. Think about which things use electricity.
Electricity provides the energy that makes devices work. Some devices get electricity from batteries. Other devices get electricity from a wall outlet. You plug the device into the outlet and electricity travels into the device through the wire.
Where Does Electricity Come From?
Electricity is produced in a power plant by machines called generators. The generators are powered by a fuel such as coal or natural gas. Generators can also be powered by wind or water.
The electricity produced by the power plant travels over wires called transmission lines. Some of these transmission lines are attached to tall metal towers, and others are attached to poles along streets. In many places, electrical wires are buried underground. The wires provide electricity to homes, schools, factories, and other buildings.
To learn more about electricity, watch the video by Learn Bright on YouTube.
Show What You Know!
Complete some questions about the reading selection by clicking “Begin Questions” below.
