| In the Philippines, teachers focus more on the | | | | transforms to electrical energy in the wire. In |
| definition of electricity and the people who | | | | other words, electricity generation is based on the |
| discovered it than on how it is produced in the | | | | relationship between magnetism and electricity. |
| first place. We know that Benjamin Fraklin, the | | | | When a wire moves across a magnetic field, an |
| greatest American statesman and inventor, was | | | | electric current occurs in the wire. Put it simply, a |
| the one who discovered the nature of electricity | | | | power generator needs magnets, coiled copper |
| through his experiments with lightning in 1740s. | | | | wire and spinning motion to generate electric |
| Thomas Edison applied electricity to light a bulb in | | | | current. |
| 1879 while Nikola Tesla developed a system of | | | | But to enable the magnetic field to spin, a force is |
| generating and transmitting alternating current | | | | needed. Most power generators have turbines |
| (AC) electricity in the 19th Century. James Watt, | | | | that are connected to the magnet, so that the |
| on the other hand, invented the steam engine, | | | | spinning will be caused first by the blades of the |
| which remains the basic structure of most | | | | turbine. What will cause the spinning motion |
| engines and power generators to this day. | | | | depends on the type of energy source: coal-fired, |
| But the real challenge for Filipino educators is to | | | | diesel oil, wind-powered, hydroelectric, gas turbine, |
| explain to their students how electricity is | | | | nuclear (uranium), geothermal, solar or others. |
| generated. Our crude interpretation is that | | | | We can use actual motion or steam to spin the |
| electricity is a reaction from the process of | | | | turbine. Wind-mills use the spinning motion to push |
| rubbing two objects. Others call electricity as a | | | | the turbine blades and turn the copper coil in the |
| form of energy or a force, but this remains | | | | generator and eventually generate electric current. |
| debatable. The fact is we need to apply energy | | | | The same principle applies to hydroelectric turbine |
| or force to release electricity. Lightning is | | | | or wheel, where water flows provide the force to |
| electricity, which is produced by force - the | | | | move the turbine blades. |
| violent movement of winds in the sky. When we | | | | In case of fuel-powered plants, a boiler is set up |
| rub two stones for a certain period, a spark is | | | | to burn fuel and produce heat, which will |
| produced, and the two objects become hot. | | | | transform water stored in long vertical tubes into |
| Electricity is released. | | | | steam. As the water begins to boil, the highly |
| A more precise definition could be electricity is the | | | | pressurized steam rises through the pipes and |
| surge of electrons. Every object is composed of | | | | blows against the turbine blades, causing the |
| atoms. In every atom there is the nucleus or the | | | | spinning motion. Fuel includes natural gas, coal and |
| center which is surrounded by negatively charged | | | | diesel. The same principle of spinning the turbine |
| particles called electrons. Inside the nucleus are | | | | blades through steam pressures applies to plants |
| positively charged particles called protons and | | | | powered by nuclear, geothermal, solar and |
| uncharged particles called neutrons. Now, a balance | | | | biomass energy. Steam turbines spin at about |
| between the number of protons and electrons | | | | 3,600 revolutions per minute. |
| exists in most atoms, but when this balance is | | | | With the spinning motion of the turbine and the |
| disrupted by a force such as the rubbing of two | | | | copper coil, electricity is generated and runs |
| objects, some electrons are released - a process | | | | through the wires or electric circuit which is |
| called electric current. | | | | connected to our homes via transformers. When |
| To release electricity, we need to apply force | | | | electricity flows through a light bulb's filament, the |
| first to drive electrons from an object. The most | | | | electricity appears as light. Power plants' |
| common force applied to achieve this is | | | | transformers increase the voltage of the |
| magnetism which is also known as electromotive | | | | electricity to make it travel through the |
| force. Here, the spinning of a copper coil within a | | | | distribution lines more efficiently until the electricity |
| magnetic field will produce a force that will push | | | | reaches to substations where separate |
| the electrons through a circuit. This push is called | | | | transformers reduce the voltage again for |
| voltage. | | | | consumer use. Electricity travels at lightning speed. |
| Most power generators are built this way, with a | | | | Households regulate the use of electricity by |
| copper coil spinning within a magnetic field to | | | | switches, which open or close the electricity |
| generate electricity. A coil serves as a conductor. | | | | circuit. Basically, electricity consumption is |
| By rotating a magnetic field around the conductor | | | | measured by a unit of power called watts. A |
| or the conductor within the magnet, electricity is | | | | kilowatt is equal to 1,000 watts. The unit |
| produced and each time the conductor travels | | | | kilowatthour, on the other hand, represents the |
| through the magnetic field, a voltage is created. | | | | use of electricity for a certain number of hours. |
| The mechanical energy of the spinning coil | | | | |