Electricity: Basic Theory

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Electricity Basic Theory

• Youth Rally 2009
• Caldwell, Idaho

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Terms

• Voltage It measures the potential energy of an
  electric field to cause an electric current in an
  electrical conductor. Like water pressure.
• Current A measure of the flow of electrons.
  Measured in Amps. Like gallons per minute.
• Watt A measure of power. Equals Volts X Amps

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What is The 1st Law of Thermodynamics?

• Energy can be neither created nor destroyed

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Generating electricity

• In 1831, Michael Faraday discovered that an
  electric current was produced in a wire moving
  near a magnet

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Revolving Field
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What happens at the atomic level when electric
current is produced?
Copper Atom
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Types of Electric Generation

• Hydro
• Coal
• Natural Gas
• Nuclear
• Solar
• Wind
• Landfill Gas
• Fuel Cells
• Ocean Wave

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Columbia Generating Station
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Transmission (How does it get there?)

• High voltage
• 34,000 to 500,000 volts
• Less line loss
• BPA owns 78 in the NW

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What is a transformer?

• A iron core with two separate coils of wire
  wrapped around it.
• Voltage is modified as ratio of the number of
  wraps of wire

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Simplified Transformer
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Distribution

• Your local utility
• 7,200 to 25,000 volts
• 120/240 volt service to your home

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Transformers
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Understanding a power bill

• Whats a Kilowatt hour?
• Enough electricity to run a 1000 watt hairdryer
  for one hour.
• Kilo 1000
• Whats a Kilowatt?
• Watt Volts X Amps

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Electricity is your friend...
Any Questions?