Putting Electrical Energy to Work
Plug It In
Power is delivered to your house using AC voltage. AC stands for alternating current.
60 times a second the current changes direction, from back to the power station to
flowing into your home. The change in direction happens so quickly that your
appliances don’t notice and the human eye cannot see it! Pretty cool, huh?
Types of Energies
Thermal Energy:
The energy associated with
heat.
Mechanical Energy:
When electricity passes
The energy associated with
thorugh the wire loops
motion.
made from specifc metals, Mechanical energy powers:
the flow of electrons is
- Fans
slowed – like a traffic jam.
- Tiny fans in our
These resistors create
computers to keep
friction, which makes heat.
them from
Thermal energy power:
overheating
- Toasters
- Hair dryers, which
- Clothes dryers
also use thermal
- Electric stoves
energy
- Blenders
Radiant Energy:
The energy associated with
light.
Flick a switch and turn on a
lamp. We have lights at
night thanks to radiant
energy.
- Light bulbs use
electricity to create
radiant energy
- X-rays are another
example of radiant
energy