What is DC Electricity
What is DC electricity (direct current)? The definition consists of this: the movement of electrons continuously from negative to positive through a conducting material. This is necessary to maintain a flow. In a circuit, the direction of the flow is opposite that of the electrons.
It consists of three parts which are voltage, current, and resistance. The flow is similar to water going through a hose. Generators or batteries can be sources used to create DC electricity.
Voltage can be explained as being the energy itself. The current can be explained as being the electrons that are flowing through the conductor, and the resistance can be explained as being the friction that is a force applied on that flow or current.
Oddly enough, negative charged electrons move toward the positive terminal of the source even though it is referred to as moving from positive to negative. This can be an extremely confusing and ironic thing to point out when trying to teach someone about how the current works.
It was the founder of DC electricity, Ben Franklin, who gave the charges their names of positive and negative. He found this out through his studies of the static form of the power.
It was before the discovery of electrons that it was believed that the current actually moved from positive to negative. Once it was put into print that this was fact.
It was very hard to change this ideology even though it was incorrect. This is the reason for the confusion today.
Many who teach others about DC electricity use the example of a garden hose as a point of reference because it is very easy to understand when it is looked at in this type of context. It is easy to explain to people as pressure that mounts at the end of the wire or hose.
This pressure causes the electrons to flow through the wire or hose to a positive charge. When explained in this way, it becomes much easier to grasp for the average person.
The power company uses a steam turbine generator to produce the power that is used by consumers. This DC electricity is then transmitted and delivered to homes, offices, businesses, factories and all other types of users. It does this by converting mechanical energy into power energy.
Today, this power is generated using many different types of fuels such as natural gas, oil, coal, wind, solar power, and biomass energy and water power. Throughout the years, science and technological advances have led to better understanding of power and how to better generate it. These same advancements have also given way to understanding how to use it more wisely and generate it using less non-renewable energy sources.
The world relies on power to continue to feed the industrial and technological needs that are globally necessary to keep everything running smoothly. As science makes new and exciting discoveries, hopefully this will lead the entire world to environmentally friendly new ways to provide the power that the world continues to devour daily.
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Author Bio: If you are thinking about switching from your electric company to a new electric supplier or you need additional information on DC electricity visit mxenergy.com.
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