Electricity is produced through various sources and used in many aspects of daily life. Some key points:
- Electricity is produced from sources like hydroelectric power through dams, thermal power by burning fossil fuels, and renewable sources like solar and wind.
- Pakistan's major hydroelectric dams are at Tarbela, Mangla, and Warsak. Thermal power stations are located in various cities like Hyderabad and Jamshoro.
- Electricity can be produced through movement like turning a magnet within a copper coil or wind power, and through non-renewable sources like burning fossil fuels in thermal power plants.
- Electricity is transmitted as alternating current but many devices run on direct
3. Electricity is very important in our
daily lives. It produces heat to
warm up our iron or toast a slice of
bread in toaster. It gives us light at a
click of a button. It creates pictures
and sounds on our TV. Can you
imagine a comfortable life without
electricity? We have all experienced
the discomfort caused by frequent
power cuts and how it effects our
daily routine.
5. There are various sources of electricity. In Pakistan, we
produce most of the electricity through wind and water.
Thermal power stations produce electricity by burning
fuels such as coal.
Wind Electricity Water Electricity Thermal Electricity
7. Hydroelectric power stations produce electricity with the force
of running water. There are three very important hydroelectric
power stations in Pakistan. They are at Tarbela, Mangla and
Warsak.
Tarbela Dam Mangla Dam Warsak Dam
9. Electricity can also be
produced by using
underground sources and
sea waves. We can also use
other form of energy
(mechanical, nuclear or
solar) to produce electricity
on a large scale.
Mechanical energy Solar energy
Nuclear energy
11. Electricity can be produced
by moving a magnet
around a copper coil. A
stronger current can be
produced by increasing the
rounds of coil or the speed
with which the magnet is
moved.
13. Activity
Equipment: a copper wire, glass rod, magnet, galvanometer.
Method: Coil the copper wire two hundred times around the glass rod. Remove the
glass rod and join both the ends of the coil to the galvanometer (an instrument for
detecting and measuring small electric currents), and note the reading. Move the
magnet around the coil, and note the reading. Now place the magnet at the centre of
the coil, and note the reading again.
When the magnet is being moved around the coil, the needle of the galvanometer
moves, indicating the production of a current. When the magnet is placed at the
centre of the coil, the needle stops moving. That proves that electricity is produced
by the movement of the magnet.
Repeat the same activity keeping the magnet stationary and moving the coil around
the magnet. Note what happens.
15. Domestic generators work on a
similar pattern. A very powerful
magnet is placed inside the coil of
copper wire. The coil moves rapidly
to produce electricity.
17. One simple example of a
generator is the bicycle
dynamo. The dynamo has
a wheel that touches the
back tyre. As the bicycle
moves, the wheel turns the
magnet inside a coil. This
induces enough electricity
to run the bicycleโs lights.
The faster the bicycle
moves, the greater the
induced current and the
brighter the lights.
18. How does the electricity produce through heat energy?
19. Electricity can be produced
using conventional sources of
heat, i.e., burning coal, oil and
gas. In the following activity,
you will see how heat
produces a current.
20.
21. Activity 2
Equipment: two copper wires, an iron wire, a candle, ice-cold
water, galvanometer.
Method: join the copper wires to the iron wire. Attach the loose
ends of the copper wire to the galvanometer, put one of the
points (between the copper and iron wires) in ice-cold water.
Heat the other joint with the candle flame. The needle of the
galvanometer will indicate the production of current in the wire
because of the change in temperature.
22. Thermal Power Station, Hyderabad
Thermal Power Station, Jamshoro
Explain production of
thermal electricity?
23. Coal, gas or petrol is
burnt in power
stations. The steam
produced as a result
of burning, is used
to move the turbines
which generate
electricity. Thermal
power stations in
Pakistan are at
Hyderabad,
Jamshoro, Karachi,
Multan, Sukkur and
other cities.
24. How does the electricity produce through solar energy?
25. Our main source of energy is the
sun. Many countries produce
electricity using heat and light from
the sun. This is an easy, cheap and
pollution-free method of producing
electricity. Light energy from the
Sun is collected, and converted into
electricity with the help of solar
cells. On a smaller scale, tiny cells
made of silicon or gallium arsenide
are used in cameras, watches and
calculators. These cells take in solar
energy and convert it into electrical
energy.
27. Nuclear energy is obtained by splitting the nucleus of an atom into parts. This
process is called nuclear fission. Very high amount of heat is liberated during this
process. This heat is used to produce steam which moves the turbines connected to
electrical generators. This is how electricity is produced. Electricity is being
generated through this principle at Karachi Nuclear Power Plant in Karachi and at
Chasma Nuclear Power Plant near Mianwali.
31. Activity 3
Equipment: a zinc plate, a copper plate, two electric wires, diluted
sulphuric acid, a beaker, a bulb.
Method: fill the beaker with the diluted sulphuric acid. Dip the zinc and
copper plates into the acid. Attach the wire to the plates. Attach the
loose ends of the wires to the bulb. The bulb will light up as long as the
chemical reaction sustains.
32. A voltaic cell works in the same
way. Zinc and copper plates
work as electrodes while the
sulphuric acid acts as an
electrolyte. When the electrodes
are connected by a conductor i.e.
a copper wire, current begins to
flow in the circuit. The current
flow stops after some time
because the zinc plate dissolves
in the acid. Hydrogen gas is
produced in this process. The
bubbles of hydrogen collect on
the copper plate and finally break
the circuit.
33. Repeat this activity by inserting zinc and copper plates into a lemon, orange or
potato. Observe what happens.
35. You use dry cells in toys, radios, clocks and cameras. Study the structure
of a dry cell.
36. Activity 4
Equipment: a used cell, knife.
Method: cut the wrapper of the used cell with a knife. Underneath the
cardboard, you will see a zinc container. The inside of the container is
coated with a jelly-like mixture of ammonium chloride and
carbohydrates. This mixture acts like and electrolyte. There is also a
layer of black powder inside the coating. This manganese dioxide. There
is a carbon rod in the centre of the container. The zinc container and the
carbon rod work as electrodes.
When a cell is put to use, the electrodes react to produce a current. This
current makes the bulb light up or the cassette recorder play.
38. Direct current (DC) is an
electric current which flows
only in one direction. The
voltage of a DC supply
source remains constant.
Some sources of DC power
are dry cells, batteries,
thermocouples, solar cells
and dynamos.
thermocouple
solar cell
dynamo
dry cell
battery
40. Alternating current (AC) is an electric
current which periodically reverses
direction. Alternating current is the
form in which electric power is
supplied to our homes, offices and
factories from power stations. It is the
form of electrical energy that is used
when we plug kitchen appliances,
televisions and electric lamps into a
wall socket. The voltage of an
alternating current supply source keeps
varying between maximum and
minimum values.
42. Most of the electrical appliances in our
home work on AC however some of
the electrical devices like mobile
phones, iPod, and laptops need direct
current to function, therefore the AC
from the supply source must be
converted into DC for this purpose.
AC can be changed to DC by an
adopter that you use to power your
battery. DC can be stored in batteries
but AC cannot be stored.
A converter is a device that changes
alternative current to direct current or
vice versa.