Types of Electricity: Static & Dynamic Electricity, useful fact

Electricity

Electricity is the movement of tiny particles called electrons from one place to another. This movement is also known as the flow of electric charge.

Just like water flows through a pipe, electricity flows through wires or other materials. The speed and ease of this flow depend on the kind of material the electrons are moving through.

Electricity is a part of science that helps us understand how these tiny charges move, what they do, and how we can use them in real life. It is a very important topic in physics.

Even though we cannot see electricity with our eyes or even through a microscope, we can feel it and use it. For example, we use electricity to turn on lights, fans, TVs, and many other things.

Types of Electricity

Electricity is mainly of two types of Electricity:

1. Static Electricity
   This is electricity that stays in one place. It does not flow. You might feel it when you rub a balloon on your hair or get a small shock when touching a metal doorknob. That’s static electricity.
2. Dynamic Electricity
   This is the electricity that flows through wires and powers things like lights, fans, and mobile phones. It is also called current electricity.

Static Electricity

Static electricity is a kind of electricity that stays still. It does not move like the electricity we use in wires at home. This electricity is made in the form of a charge. But because it does not flow from one place to another, we cannot use it to run machines or lights. That’s why it is not made in large amounts or used in homes or factories.

Let’s understand how static electricity is made.

Figure (a): Amber and Leather

When we rub an amber rod on a piece of leather, something special happens.
Some tiny particles called electrons move from the leather to the amber rod.

• The leather loses electrons, so it becomes positively charged.
• The amber rod gains electrons, so it becomes negatively charged.

Electrons are very small and carry a negative charge. So, if something gets more electrons, it becomes negatively charged. If it loses electrons, it becomes positively charged.

Figure (b): Glass and Silk

Now, take a glass rod and rub it with a silk cloth.

• This time, the electrons move from the glass rod to the silk.
• The glass rod loses electrons, so it becomes positively charged.
• The silk cloth gains electrons, so it becomes negatively charged.

What Happens Next?

When two objects with opposite charges (one positive, one negative) come close or touch each other, their charges cancel out. This is called neutralisation. After that, they are no longer charged.

Because static electricity goes away quickly and cannot flow like normal electricity, we cannot use it to power machines or homes. That is why it is not used for commercial purposes.

Dynamic Electricity

We can make dynamic electricity from many natural and man-made sources. Some of the common sources are:

Dynamic electricity is the type of electricity that flows—just like water flowing through a pipe. It happens when tiny particles called electrons move through a wire or conductor. This is the kind of electricity we use every day in our homes, schools, and devices.

There are two main types of dynamic electricity:

1. Direct Current (DC)

In direct current, the electricity flows in one direction only—from one end to the other, like a one-way road.
It is usually found in batteries and small gadgets. There are types of dynamic electricity:

Example:
When you switch on a flashlight, the battery pushes the electricity through the bulb, making it light up. The electricity then returns to the battery in a full circle. This is called a closed circuit.

2. Alternating Current (AC)

In alternating current, the electricity keeps changing direction, moving back and forth—just like the waves in the sea.

This type of electricity is used in homes, schools, factories, and offices because it is better for carrying electricity over long distances. There are types of dynamic electricity:

Example:
When you turn on a fan or a light at home, you are using AC power.

In Simple Words:
Dynamic electricity is moving electricity. It powers everything from a small torch to a big machine. Without it, many of the things we use every day wouldn’t work.

It’s like the heartbeat of modern life—always flowing, always working, always helping.

Types of Electricity: renewable sources

1. Sunlight (Optical Sources):

Sunlight can be used to create dynamic electricity. We do this with special devices called photoelectric cells and solar cells.
As soon as these cells come in contact with sunlight, they start working. These cells have special plates that collect the sunlight and turn it into electricity. The sunlight creates a flow of positive and negative charges in the plates, and this charge is passed on to other connected parts.

These solar and photoelectric cells are mostly used for small needs, like running street lights, garden lights, or small machines. They are helpful in places where we want clean and quiet energy.

☀️ Solar Energy
Solar energy comes from the sun. It is clean, bright, and always shining during the day. There are two main ways we use solar energy:

1. Solar Panels – These flat panels sit on rooftops or fields. They catch sunlight and change it straight into electricity.
2. Solar Mirrors – These mirrors collect sunlight and turn it into heat. This heat makes steam, and the steam moves machines that make electricity.
   
   

Heat Method (Thermocouple Method):

When two different types of metals are joined together and heated, a small amount of electricity is made at their ends. This happens because of the heat. We call this the thermocouple method.
But the electricity made this way is very little, so we cannot use it for big things or in homes and factories. It is only used in small devices or for testing.

2. Magnetic Method:

If we take a wire (called a conductor) and spin it in a magnetic field, electricity is created inside the wire. This happens because of the movement and the magnetic force.
This is a very useful method and is used to make both AC (alternating current) and DC (direct current) electricity.
We use this electricity to power our homes, schools, machines, and almost everything around us.

3. Chemical Method:

In this method, a chemical liquid called an electrolyte is used. When it reacts, it breaks into small charged particles called ions.
These ions move and create electricity. This electricity is stored in cells or batteries.
We can’t use this method to make large amounts of electricity, but it is very helpful for running small things like remote controls, toys, mobile phones, and cars.

🌬️ Wind Energy

Wind energy means using the power of the wind to make electricity. When the wind blows, it moves the big blades of windmills (called wind turbines). These spinning blades help create power. Wind turbines can be placed on land (onshore) or in the sea (offshore), wherever the wind blows strongly.

🌍 Geothermal Energy

Deep under the ground, the Earth is full of heat. This hot energy comes out as steam in some places. We can catch this steam to spin turbines and make electricity. It’s like using the Earth’s inner warmth to power our homes.

🌊 Ocean Energy

The sea is always moving – with waves, tides, and underwater currents. These movements can also make electricity in many special ways:

• Tidal Energy – When the sea level rises and falls, it creates strong movements. We can turn these movements into power.
• Wave Energy – Waves go up and down. We can use this up-and-down motion to run machines that make electricity.
• Current Energy – Under the sea, water flows in strong streams. We can use this flowing water to spin machines and make power.
• Ocean Heat Energy – The top of the ocean is warm, and the deep part is cold. The difference in temperature can also be used to make electricity.

🌱 Biomass Energy

Biomass energy comes from things that were once alive, like plants, trees, and animals. Old leaves, wood pieces, food waste, and even farm leftovers can be turned into heat or electricity. Because new plants can grow again, this energy keeps coming back, making it renewable.

Types of Electricity from Non-Renewable Sources

Electricity is a big part of our daily lives. It helps us light our homes, use machines, and power factories. Some of this electricity comes from sources that cannot be replaced once they are used. These are called non-renewable sources. Let’s understand them in a simple way.

1. Natural Gas

Natural gas is a type of fuel found deep under the ground. It burns cleanly and gives off a lot of energy. It is used to make electricity in power stations and is also used for cooking and heating. One great thing about natural gas is that it can be used quickly when people suddenly need more power.

2. Coal

Coal looks like black rock. It has been used for many years to make electricity. When we burn coal, it makes heat, which helps turn big machines that produce power. Coal is found in large amounts and can make a lot of electricity, which is why many countries still use it.

3. Crude Oil

Crude oil is thick, dark liquid found deep in the earth. Most of it is used to make fuel for cars, buses, and airplanes. But some of it is also used to produce electricity, especially when we need extra power for short periods. It helps keep the power system flexible.

4. Nuclear Energy

Nuclear energy comes from tiny particles inside atoms. In special power plants, these atoms are split to make a lot of energy. This energy is then turned into electricity. Nuclear power doesn’t use smoke or gas to create power, and it can give us electricity all day and night without stopping.

Even though these sources help us a lot, they won’t last forever. That’s why it’s important to use them wisely and think about better, cleaner ways for the future. But for now, they still play a big role in giving us the power we need.

Basic Terms Related to Electricity

Electricity is a part of our everyday life. To understand how it works, we need to first learn some simple and important terms. Let’s go through them one by one in a way that’s easy to understand.

1. Electric Charge
Electric charge is a tiny form of energy that can move from one place to another. When it flows, we get electricity. To really understand it, we need to know a little about atoms—because that’s where it all begins.

2. Matter
Everything around us is made of matter. If something has weight and takes up space, it is called matter. There are three forms of matter:

• Solid (like ice or rock)
• Liquid (like water or milk)
• Gas (like air or steam)

Matter can change from one form to another if we heat it or cool it.

3. Molecules
Molecules are the tiny building blocks of matter. They are so small that we can’t see them with our eyes. But they are very important because they hold all the properties of the substance they are part of. Molecules are made of even smaller parts called atoms.

4. Atom
Atoms are the smallest parts of any substance. They cannot exist alone, but they can join together to form molecules. Atoms can also take part in chemical reactions and can be separated during such changes.

5. Atomic Structure
An atom may be very small, but it has its own inner world. Inside an atom, there are even smaller parts called:

• Protons (with a positive charge)
• Neutrons (with no charge)
• Electrons (with a negative charge)

The center of the atom is called the nucleus. Protons and neutrons stay in the nucleus, while electrons move around it. It looks a bit like our solar system—where the Sun is in the middle and the planets go around it.

These are the basic ideas you need to understand electricity. Once you know these, learning about how electricity works becomes much easier!

Nucleus

At the center of every atom, there is a small, heavy part called the nucleus. This is like the heart of the atom. It holds two types of tiny particles — protons and neutrons. These two stick together tightly because of a strong natural force. Outside the nucleus, there is a lot of empty space where very light particles called electrons move around in circles, like planets around the sun.

Proton

A proton is one of the building blocks of everything in the universe. No matter where you find a proton, it will always be the same. It lives inside the nucleus and doesn’t move around.
A proton carries a positive charge. This charge is called +1.6 × 10⁻¹⁹ coulombs, but you can simply remember it as +1 unit of charge.
It is much heavier than an electron — about 1845 times heavier! Its weight is about 1.67 × 10⁻²⁴ grams.

Neutron

A neutron is also found in the nucleus with the proton. Like the proton, it also stays still and doesn’t move around.
But a neutron is neutral — that means it has no charge at all.
Its weight is almost the same as that of a proton, so it is also quite heavy compared to an electron.

Electron

An electron is a very tiny and very light particle. It stays outside the nucleus and keeps moving around it in fixed paths, like a merry-go-round.
It has a negative charge, which is –1.6 × 10⁻¹⁹ coulombs, or –1 unit of charge.
Its mass is just 9.02 × 10⁻²⁸ grams, which makes it extremely light.
Electrons also spin like a top on their own axis. So, they move in two ways — they spin and they revolve around the nucleus in circles.

Balance Inside the Atom

In any atom, the number of electrons is always equal to the number of protons. This keeps the atom balanced, because the positive and negative charges cancel each other out.

If you add the number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus, you get the atomic mass of that element. This tells us how heavy the atom is.

Conclusion of Types of Electricity

Electricity is a powerful and helpful part of our daily life. It comes in different types, like static electricity that we feel when we touch something after rubbing our feet on the carpet, and current electricity that lights up our homes and powers our machines.

Current electricity is of two main kinds—direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC). DC flows in one direction like the power from a battery, while AC changes direction again and again, like the power from the plug in our wall.

Understanding the types of electricity helps us stay safe, use it wisely, and enjoy the things it makes possible—like fans, lights, phones, and computers. Electricity may be invisible, but it’s one of the most important forces in the world.

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