{{:electricity:electricity-banner-790x50.jpg|Electricity Banner}} ====== Q8.1 How energy travels in a simple battery & lamp circuit: ====== === CORE CONCEPTS: === An electric circuit is like a duct for electrical energy, but this duct has no walls. Generators don't produce 'electricity', they produce 'electrical energy' which is made of invisible fields resembling radio waves that whiz along outside of the wires. Generators are charge pumps. They force the charges found inside the wires to flow along. The above topics have been explained in detail in earlier questions. This question focuses on more on the mysterious and theoretical side of the science of electricity. The challenge of understanding, rather than satisfaction of explanation, is what drives most scientific advances: ---- ++++ Q8.1 CLICK HERE TO SEE / HIDE STUDENT FLIP RESOURCES:| {{youtube>yvX7x7ZTtFg?640x360|Richard Feynman - Bigger is Electricity}} **Video: Richard Feynman - Bigger is Electricity** * IF UNABLE TO ACCESS YOUTUBE VIDEO (requires Flash) TRY:[[http://viewpure.com/yvX7x7ZTtFg|Richard Feynman - Bigger is Electricity ---- ++++ ++++ Q8.1 CLICK HERE FOR A SCIENTIFIC EXPLANATION:| Description A is the most accurate description: DESCRIPTION A: Whenever a battery powers a light bulb, the battery pours out electrical energy into space. That electromagnetic field (EM) field energy is then grabbed firmly by the wires and guided by them. The field energy flows parallel to the wires, and eventually it dives into the lightbulb filament. There, it drives the metal's population of movable charges forward, against the resisting force of electrical "friction." Electrons in the metal momentarily speed up before colliding with tungsten atoms. In this way the electrical energy gets converted into thermal energy (heat + light). As a whole, an electric circuit is like a tube/duct for electrical energy, but this duct has no walls. ---- DESCRIPTION B: Electrical energy flows inside the metal wires. Electrons in the metal wires momentarily speed up before colliding with tungsten atoms. In this way the electrical energy gets converted into thermal energy (heat + light). As a whole, an electric circuit is like a tube/duct for electrical energy, with the wires acting as the walls. ---- ++++ ====== Q8.4 Can standard flashlight batteries electrocute people? ====== A 6V flashlight battery might kill you if you had deep cuts & those cuts pressed against the battery terminals. ++++ Q8.4 CLICK HERE TO SEE / HIDE STUDENT FLIP RESOURCES:| {{youtube>dKCWAL4y38U?640x360|Powerline Inspector - Faraday Cage}} **Video: Powerline Inspector & Faraday Cage** * IF UNABLE TO ACCESS YOUTUBE VIDEO (requires Flash) TRY:[[http://viewpure.com/dKCWAL4y38U|Powerline Inspector - Faraday Cage]] ---- {{youtube>TnNixMosUIo?640x360|Amazing Energy Facts}} **Video: Amazing Energy Facts** * IF UNABLE TO ACCESS YOUTUBE VIDEO (requires Flash) TRY:[[http://viewpure.com/TnNixMosUIo|Amazing Energy Facts]] ++++ ++++ Q8.4 CLICK HERE FOR A SCIENTIFIC EXPLANATION:| Standard Flashlight batteries are [[http://www.pelican.com/info/support-battery-safety/|relatively very safe]]... But, like just about any object, batteries can be misused and abused. And a reminder - Please dispose of used batteries via proper re-cycling points - do not toss old batteries into the rubbish. ---- ++++