Electricity is the flow of electrons and is a form of energy that powers many devices in modern life. It is measured in watts, with one watt being a small amount of power. While voltage pushes current through the body, it is the current or amps itself that can kill, as little as 50mA across the heart is enough to cause death. Computers require direct current to function which is obtained by converting alternating current from wall outlets. When working inside a computer, static electricity must be discharged to avoid damaging components, as they can be harmed by as little as 10 volts from static.

2.  Electricity figures everywhere in our lives.
Electricity lights up our homes, cooks our
food, powers our computers, television sets,
and other electronic devices. Electricity from
batteries keeps our cars running and makes
our flashlights shine in the dark.
 Electricity is a form of energy.
 Electricity is the flow of electrons.

3.  Electricity is measured in units of power
called watts. It was named to honour James
Watt, the inventor of the steam engine. One
watt is a very small amount of power. It
would require nearly 750 watts to
equal one horsepower. A kilowatt
represents 1,000 watts. A kilowatt-
hour (kWh) is equal to the energy of
1,000 watts working for one hour.

4.  It’s not volts that can kill you it’s the Amps (current). You
only need 50mA across your heart to kill you, there is
enough in a 9v battery to kill you under the right
conditions.
Voltage just pushes the current through you, the higher the
voltage the easier the path through your body, it all
depends upon your resistance, if you touch a 9v battery
with your dry finger you won’t feel anything, if you wet
your finger and try again you will get a
current flow and you will feel it tingle.
(don’t try this at home)
(especially if you have a pace maker)

5.  There are two different types of electricity.
There is static and current.
 Current is electricity flowing through an
electrical field.
 Static is when you rub two or more object,
its friction.
 http://amasci.com/miscon/curstat.html

6.  All computers, and electronic devices for that matter,
require a direct current (DC). Any electricity coming from
a wall socket is what's called AC or an alternating current
because it oscillates back and forth very rapidly.
Computers require a very constant and steady stream of
electricity and so it must convert the power from an outlet
from AC to DC before it can be used.
For more information visit:
http://www.pccomputernotes.com/esd/esd.htm

7.  Static Electricity
Whenever the casing of a computer is opened and its internal
workings are exposed — to change a hard drive or add memory
chips for example — there is a danger of damaging the computer
with the build up of static electricity that is held by the human
body.
The internal workings of a computer, and especially the hard
drive, are extremely susceptible to static electricity, which can
cause considerable damage to the hard drive if it is zapped with
even a small amount. Microchip damage can occur if it is exposed
to static electricity as low as 10 volts, and
humans are not able to perceive static electricity
until it has reached about 1,500 volts.
 For more information visit:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/82184/article.html

8.  The best protection is a properly grounded anti-static mat
and/or grounded wrist-strap. However only the most serious
PC hobbyists have these. But you can use the computer case
itself as a grounding point to safely discharge static
electricity whenever you touch it.
 The goal is to cut power the PC, but keep the power cord to
the computer plugged in. This may sound counter-intuitive,
but the third prong of the power cord is a ground. When the
power cord is connected to a properly grounded wall socket
the metal frame of the case becomes a grounding point.
 For more information visit
http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/pdf/electrical.pdf
 http://whitefiles.org/b1_s/1_free_guides/fg1mt/pgs/h17b.ht
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