5. Thesis
• Electricians are important figures in
modern day because our world revolves
around electricity. By doing minor electrical
work around my house I have proved that
this is a serious matter to deal with and
that only professionals should do this type
of work.
6. Ben Franklin
Key and Kite
http://eightninths.squarespace.com
7. Thomas Edison
Invention of
the light bulb
http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/bledison.htm
41. Training and
Qualifications
http://www.reikigeorgia.com/images/certificates/apprenticeship.jpg
http://www.inspectrite.net/Master_electrical_license.jpg
43. Salary
Motor vehicle parts manufacturing 30.04
Local government 22.24
Nonresidential building construction 19.99
Building equipment contractors 19.76
Employment services 15.62
The reason i chose this topic was becasue at first i was planning on going to a tech school and study to be an electrician and hopefully get employed as an electrician but recently my mind has changed.
Electricians, not too well known, are important figures in modern day because our world revolves around electricity. For this reason, I would like to teach you about their profession and electricity in general.
Electrical charges were known to man way before Ben Franklin’s time, but it was his infamous experiment that led to the better usage of electricity in the world in 1752. His experiment consisted of a kite and a key. During a thunderstorm Franklin flew a kite with a key on it and when the lightning stuck it hit the key, it proved that lightning was a source of electricity in the world.
Picture: http://eightninths.squarespace.com
In 1879 a guy by the name of Thomas Edison invented the electric light bulb. his incandescent lamps took the place of the gas infrastructure. These lamps work by electricity flowing through a small filament in the light bulb making it hot and glow. Some of these lamps were too bright for single rooms.
Picture:http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/bledison.htm
Electricity was a mystery to scientists for many years until 1897 where they finally discovered the existence of electrons.
How Stuff Works. How Stuff Works Inc., 2010. Web. 1 Mar. 2010.
&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;<http://science.howstuffworks.com/electricity.htm>.
Picture: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/solar/images/illust_silicon_electrons.gif
http://ligon.wcpss.net/dept/images/kmiller_scientist.jpg
electrons are the smallest and lightest particle in an atom. They are the negative particle and are in motion around the nucleus and are surround by the electrostatic field Electrons are found in all matter and can determine things such as the conductivity of an object. These electrons travel through different conductors to transfer electricity, and technology enables us to use the energy for different purposes.
Ohm&#x2019;s law is that current equals voltage divided by resistance. This equation can be set up differently say if you were trying to find resistance the equation would be Resistance equals voltage divided by current
while pressure that the electrons are being moved with is the voltage. In the United States, the standard voltage for a wall outlet is 120 volts. The device on the left is used to test the amount of electricity flowing to power the particular thing. Using devices like these, the power company can determine how much energy is being used at one&#x2019;s home, and charge them based on that amount. Another factor in electrical circuits is resistance, which can be toyed with to control the amount of electrons flowing through a circuit.
How Stuff Works. How Stuff Works Inc., 2010. Web. 1 Mar. 2010.
&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;<http://science.howstuffworks.com/electricity.htm>.
Picture: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Qar5JM1qR54/R2MTfu7LCHI/AAAAAAAABAI/WnnoJnWwDAY/s400/Electrocuted2.JPG
http://i.ehow.com/images/GlobalPhoto/Articles/4894201/156777-main_Full.jpg
The flow of electrons is measured in amperes. It measures the amount of electrical current that exists when a number of electrons move past a given point in one second. Because we can not count that fast we use a device called and ammeter to count the amps of current
Direct Current and Alternating Current are the two types of current flow that can be found in the world. Direct Current represents the current in objects such as batteries because there is always a set direction for the flow of electrons between the positive and negative terminals. How Stuff Works. How Stuff Works Inc., 2010. Web. 1 Mar. 2010.
&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;<http://science.howstuffworks.com/electricity.htm>.
Picture: http://xprizecars.com/images/Battery_9V.jpg
On the other hand, Alternating Current represents voltages that can be changed using a device called a transformer. Companies that supply great amounts of power use AC because in this way they can control the amount of power being sent out to people&#x2019;s houses. These power plants generate millions of volts, but sending that much power to a house could easily kill someone. By using AC, they can lower the volts at different points as they get from the plant to the house to ensure people&#x2019;s safety.
http://science.howstuffworks.com/electricity5.htm
How Stuff Works. How Stuff Works Inc., 2010. Web. 1 Mar. 2010.
&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;<http://science.howstuffworks.com/electricity.htm>.
Electrons in general can not do much in creating electricity without the help of a generator. This device consists of a magnet that pushes the electrons in a certain pattern and with a particular pressure. A magnet will cause the electrons in a region to move based on the polarity of that side of the magnet. In electrical circuits, the number of electrons is the current, and the pressure pushing the electrons is the voltage. A generator is used to move these electrons along a line, but they will not be completing any task until an electrical board is put into use.
How Stuff Works. How Stuff Works Inc., 2010. Web. 1 Mar. 2010.
&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;<http://science.howstuffworks.com/electricity.htm>.
Picture: http://target.raf.mod.uk/v2/furniture/factfiles/FK_Phy_Fli_1.gif
http://www.windows.ucar.edu/sun/images/sunspot_horseshoe_magnet_big.jpg
Electrical Circuits work in a way where they use the movement of electrons to their advantage to power differen t items. The electrons always desire to move towards the positive side, and the movement of the electrons creates energy. A circuit will combine the electrons movement to a positive area, but make a stop at whatever needs to be powered. An example of this is an electrical razor in which the battery electrons that pass through move through a magnetic field in the razor. When moving through the magnetic field, they create motion through attraction and repulsion to move the motor.
How Stuff Works. How Stuff Works Inc., 2010. Web. 1 Mar. 2010.
&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;<http://science.howstuffworks.com/electricity.htm>.
Picture: http://www.kidslovekits.com/projects/KITSEC/Simple_Electric_Circuit_ON_L.jpg
http://img.alibaba.com/photo/11895492/Norelco_Smart_Touch_Electric_Razor_9195_XL.jpg
A series circuit is a circuit where there is only one path for the electrons to travel between two points. All the components of the circuit are in series with each other
In a parallel circuit the electrons have many paths to take and thats what make a parallel and series circuit different A parallel circuit exists whenever two or more components are connected between the same two points
A switch is a device that pretty much operates the circuit but not every circuit has a switch. When the switch is open nothing happens because the circuit is not completed but when closed you completed the circuit and the electron can now start flowing in the designated directed depending on what kind of circuit is being used.
Batteries work through chemical reactions that produce electrons. These kind of reactions are known as electrochemical reactions. When looking at a battery, there is a positive and negative terminal and the electrons collect on the negative side. When a wire is connected between the two, the electrons move as fast as they can from the negative to the positive. When making a circuit, they connect a load, which the electrons will pass through. Depending on the chemical reaction inside the battery, the speed of the electrons flowing will be determined.
The way rechargeable batteries work is simple. Normally when energy is applied to the battery the electron flow goes negative to positive When you reverse the flow during discharge the power is restored. the time it takes to recharge depends on how much electrical energy is allowed in the battery by the charger
Good conductors are objects that electricity is able to pass through easily. One of the most common conductor is copper It is used in wiring house, building and factories. Some other conductors are gold, silver and aluminum. The reason copper is the most preferred choice is because it is not as expensive as gold and silver and is a much better conductor than aluminum
Insulators are the opposite of conductors then do not allow electricity to flow through them easily. These different materials have tightly bound electrons making it hard for electricity to flow through them. materials that fall under this category are wood plastic rubber and glass. The reason they say the safest place to stay in a thunderstorm is a car is because a car has rubber tires and rubber is an insulator
When these electrons travel through electrical wires, they need a safe way to travel back through the circuit. For this reason, they created electrical ground because the earth is a good conductor. Every house and wiring pole will contain a metal wire that sticks into the ground to send the electrons back through the circuit. Without this, the electrons would be flowing around dangerously in a way that can harm people greatly. An article of mine fit into here because when an electrician went to fix a ladies service box there were some hazards the electrical system was grounded properly and because it wasn&#x2019;t grounded properly there was a chance that someone could have been electrocuted or a fire could have started if your house is more than 25 year old than it probably dur for an electrical inspection.
How Stuff Works. How Stuff Works Inc., 2010. Web. 1 Mar. 2010.
&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;<http://science.howstuffworks.com/electricity.htm>.
Picture: http://science.howstuffworks.com/electricity6.htm
http://users.erols.com/n3rr/photos/tower_leg_ground_wire_clamp.jpg
When jumping cars, the electricity is transferred through two jumper cables that connect the negative terminals to each other and the positive terminals to each other. When doing this, the electrons from the running car can travel to the other car when the broke down car is attempted to turn on. When the key is turned in the ignition, it triggers the function to start up the battery (the chemical reaction). Electrons travel from high to low, and since one car has high amounts of electrons, and one is low, they will travel to the car and start it up.
Light bulbs have a very simple structure. At the base, they have two metal contacts, which connect to the ends of an electrical circuit. The metal contacts are attached to two wires, which are attached to a thin metal filament usually tungsten because of its extremely high melting point. The filament is held up by a glass mount in the middle of the bulb which is filled with an inert gas which is usually argon or neon. As the electricity goes throughout the lightbulb it heats up the filament and it produces light.
Picture: http://www.light-bulbs.us/light-bulb-424.jpg
http://career.4thd-group.com/images/Bulb.jpg
How Stuff Works. How Stuff Works Inc., 2010. Web. 1 Mar. 2010.
&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;<http://science.howstuffworks.com/electriclightbulbs.htm>.
The main difference in a fluorescent bulb is the way that the electrons are excited. In an incandescent bulb, the electrons are excited using heat, and then that energy is converted into light. In a fluorescent bulb, the electrons are excited with the power from the outlet, and then the electrons travel along special gas that are in the bulb. The energy of the electrons movement causes the Mercury (liquid varies in different bulbs) to heat up and become gas. The gas particles crash into the electron particles and cause emission of light through the energy of the collisions. The light that is emitted is ultraviolet, therefore the inside of the bulb is phosphorous coated to allow humans to see the light. These bulbs benefit because they do not heat up like the other ones, and the reaction can continue to go for a long time.
GFCI stands for Ground fault circuit interrupter. BOCA code regulations require these outlet in your house or business when an outlet is near a water source such as a kitchen or bathroom. If the neutral wire and hot wire somehow touch or water enters the outlet, this outlet allows the fuse to heat up faster than the wires so that the fuse burns out before a fire can start or you can receive a deadly shock. On the outlets the left slot is slightly larger than the right slot. The left slot is called neutral, the right side is called hot and the hole is called ground. You can also find a reset button and a test button. The test button allows you to see if the circuit can trip and the reset button resets it.
Picture:http://www.design-a-home.com/images/features/GFCI%20OUTLETS-STANDARD.jpg
How Stuff Works. How Stuff Works Inc., 2010. Web. 1 Mar. 2010.
&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;&#xA0;<http://science.howstuffworks.com/gfcioutlets.htm>.
the electric eel is one of the few animals on the planet that can make, store and discharge electricity. Inside of the eel is an electric organ. this organ is made up of 5000 to 6000 electroplaques. These electriplaques are like cells in a battery and when they are used in a series that can create a jolt that can measure up to 650 volt depending on the size of eel. They mainly use the electricity for communication and to sense where they are going. Then when it needs to eat it stuns its prey with that large jolt.
static electricity is a motionless electrical charge. When it is low in humidity or a place with a dry climate people people experience staic electricity. If you rub you feet across the carpet and you touch and uncharged object or an object that has an opposite charge a static charge is released. Most static electricity is harmless but can be cause a disturbance when making things because it makes things stick together. Harmful static electricity is lightning
In electrical storms the storm clouds are charged positive on the top and negative on the bottom. They way the clouds got charged is not fully understood but there are some plausible explanations. scientist say that during the water cycle when evaporating water droplets and condensing droplets collide electrons are knocked off creating charge separation. these electrons gather at the bottom of the cloud making it negative the the rising moisture goes to the top making it positive
Electricians design, assemble, install, test and repair electrical fixtures and wiring.
The things they work on provide light, heat, refrigeration, air-conditioning, power, and communications and all of these are used in everyday life. Being an electrician is a very dangerous job because if something goes wrong that person can easily lose their life.
They use blueprints and the blue print indicate the locations of circuits, outlets, panel boards and other equipment
Picture: http://www.local-tradesman.co.uk/images/electrician_at_work.jpg
Construction. 4th ed. 2004. New York: Ferguson, 2004. Print. Career in Focus.
Electricians work both in and outside. Their work can be strenuous from kneeling, bending, standing for long period of time. most electricians work 40 hours a week and some may have to work weekends or nights and some are on call. If they are working outdoor the may work in inclement weather
In high school if you are planning on being an electrician then it is recommended that you go to a tech school for part of the day to learn about the different tools and devices that electricians use in everyday day work. Also they suggest that you should take applied mathematics and sciences so that you can understand the maths that are needed to get the job done. When you reach 18 the next step to better yourself is doing an apprenticeship under an electrician. This helps give you an idea of what you are going to be dealing with as an electrician. Being an apprentice is highly recommended. This usually last 4 years. You will need 144 hours in the class room and 2000 hours on the job The final step is to take a written test on the information you learned throughout training. If the test is passed then you will receive your license or certification. This license is not required in all states. To be an electrician you have to have colored vision to determine the differ color wires and need good agility and dexterity.
Picture: http://www.inspectrite.net/Master_electrical_license.jpg
http://www.reikigeorgia.com/images/certificates/apprenticeship.jpg
Construction. 4th ed. 2004. New York: Ferguson, 2004. Print. Career in Focus.
through the year 2014 employment of electricians is going to increase fast. AS the population grows we will need more electricians to wire people homes, factories and businesses. Also as time goes on new technologies will come about and we will need them more here. employment varies depending on the economy and so does apprenticeship. During the periods when the economy is bad there are less opportunities to do an apprenticeship and employment of electricians is low. On the other hand when the economy is doing well more jobs and opportunities open up
The amount of money an electricians makes a year depends on their experience. When they are just starting out their pay ranges from 23,000 to 41,000 dollars but as time goes on and they get better at what they doing they can be paid 65,000+.
Construction. 4th ed. 2004. New York: Ferguson, 2004. Print. Career in Focus.
Electricians must perform the standard safety procedures. These include making sure the circuit breaker is off to the device that he or she is working on. Then testing the device to make sure the fuse doesn&#x2019;t blow. And if they are working with high voltage like power lines they should wear lineman electrical gloves and safety harness and hard hats.
Carlos is my grandparents handy man. he does all of their electrical and outside work. When they need something fixed he fixes it. He can into play with my project because he taught me a lot about how electricity works or and gets to a house. He told me about the different wires in an outlet and switch and what each does.
He is my dad and he usually does the electrical work in my house when he can. He also taught me about electricity and how gfi outlets work. He taught me how to replace light switches and outlets