What Is Electricity?

You can see it from space, lighting up the world’s cities at night, and conveying travellers along the roads and railways that crisscross every country. Almost every manufactured item you purchase was created in a facility drawing on a vast industrial network of electrical supply. Furthermore, it’s the core running through electronic technology, which has given us the internet and networked communications.

The development of this power represents a long journey, from inexplicable natural phenomena to the global power of the 21st century. In this article, we’ll be examining what electricity actually is and where it came from, exploring its scientific discovery and historical development. We’re also going to examine how we use electricity today, and where we’re going with it in the future.

The Nature Of Electricity

Electricity is one of the foundations on which our modern life is built. It’s a natural energy that occurs when charged particles travel through a conductor. In the case of lightning, it travels down an ionised channel in the air, created when storm activity results in a separation of positive and negative particles. 

However, electricity as a phenomenon of physics was first observed and scientifically detected as static electricity. This is the result of an imbalance occurring between the positive and negative charges that exist on the surface of any material. It’s usually experienced when some friction occurs between two different types of material, like your carpet and your shoe. When these two materials separate again, there’s a transfer of electrons, which causes a minor electrical discharge.

In The Beginning

The discovery of static electricity is widely attributed to the ancient Greek philosopher, Thales of Miletus, though this is unproven. This was a time of great discovery by the pre-Socratic philosophers, and Thales is better known for noting that all life was based on water. He also made an accurate prediction of a solar eclipse, but is not known in ancient sources for ‘discovering electricity’. 

However, it had been observed at some point in ancient history that amber had a special quality. This natural substance attracted lightweight objects to itself, such as feathers, if you rubbed it with fur. This rubbing, known as the Greek-derived phenomenon of triboelectricity – electrification through rubbing –  led to the first recognition of static electricity. While amber or other substances can be electrically charged with many materials, fur from rabbits or cats seemed to work best.

The early Egyptians had also recognised a form of bioelectricity thousands of years old, which they harnessed for medical purposes. The electric catfish is one of several unusual aquatic species that includes electric eels and rays. These fish can generate electricity inside their own bodies, and transmit it as a shock when touched. 

Early Research

Electricity wasn’t exactly discovered, as it’s always been there as a natural force, but it took centuries of observation and experimentation to properly understand it and turn it to human advantage. After the pre-Socratic philosophers, only a few investigators recorded items of interest concerning static and bioelectric phenomena. It was the renowned 16th-century scientist and physician, Dr William Gilbert, who invented the new word ‘electrica’, derived from the Greek original elektron. 

Sporadic investigation and experimentation continued in various parts of the world, in both electricity and electromagnetism, but only produced the occasional philosophical research paper. It wasn’t until the period of the Enlightenment in the 17th and 18th centuries that scientists began to develop a serious interest, and conduct more formal experiments. One of the most famous of these was carried out by Benjamin Franklin in 1752, who proved that lightning was a form of electricity, and that it followed certain physical and explainable principles. 

Expansion And Development Of Electrical Research

An early version of an electrostatic generator had been invented in the mid-16th century, but a functional working version wasn’t in use until the end of the 17th century. After this slow start, the study of electricity picked up speed with the invention in the early 19th century of the first proper battery. Alessandro Volta’s voltaic pile demonstrated in 1800 that it could generate electrical energy through chemical reactions, which led to a rapid escalation of electrical discovery. There was still no clear recognition of the relationship between Franklin’s lightning, the static electricity developed through friction, the bioelectricity coming naturally from fish and eels, and the newly created voltaic electricity.

The Turning Point

Electrical power began to overtake gas and steam in the mid-19th century, when scientists like James Clerk Maxwell and Michael Faraday opened up our understanding of electromagnetism. While previous experiments had already been done on electromagnetism, Faraday discovered how passing a conductor through a magnetic field could produce electricity. This process, known as electromagnetic induction, was the forerunner of the electric generator.

Towards the end of the century, George Westinghouse and Nikola Tesla were developing the benefits of alternating current (AC) electricity. This method of long-distance electrical transmission continues to be standard across the world. Thomas Edison’s light bulb was one of the most important breakthroughs of the late 19th century, though it’s often argued that he stole the idea from Tesla. 

This period of extensive discovery and understanding of electricity laid the foundations for widespread electrical infrastructure. Major cities began to build their first power plants and establish electrical grids, so the early years of the 20th century saw most homes and businesses having a mains supply. As time passed, the electrical infrastructure expanded, with larger power stations generating electricity on a grand scale, distributed across nations via extensive grids.

From Lightbulb To Smart Home

This general increase in availability spurred several major electric-based inventions, such as radio and TV. New plug-in household appliances appeared, like vacuum cleaners, refrigerators and washing machines. Electronics made its first showing, with the 1947 invention of the transistors that foreshadowed computers and digital technology.

The development of electrical innovation in the late 20th and early 21st centuries transformed everything. It underpins industrial automation and mass production, supports amazing innovations in medical technology and makes domestic life immeasurably easier and more entertaining. The modern digital age is entirely dependent on electricity, with the invention of the internet, the mobile phone network, and the spread and capabilities of remote devices. From individual homes to entire factories, smart premises can be completely automated and controlled from wherever you are on the planet.

What Do We Use Electricity For?

We’ve reached a point as a society where we’d find it hard to do without electricity. It powers our way of life and is found in almost every aspect of our daily activities. You probably wake up to some form of digital signal, you prepare your food and drink using electric appliances, you’re in constant communication via electronic technological devices, and you probably travel in a vehicle governed by electronic controls. The following are some examples:

Personal and Domestic Use

• Cooking with electric appliances, from kettles and toasters to ovens, hobs and microwaves.

• Lighting in homes, streets, leisure centres and workplaces.

• Temperature control, via thermostats, heaters, fans and air conditioners.

• Communication via internet connections, using electronic and digital devices such as mobile phones, tablets and PCs.

• Entertainment, via electrically powered and/or electronically controlled radio and television, computers, gaming consoles, smartphones, etc.

Industrial and Commercial Use

• Offices and business run their office equipment, computers and servers using electricity.

• Manufacturing plants use electricity to drive machinery and electronic systems to enhance automated processes.

• Medical apparatus is critical to human health, with electricity powering equipment such as X-ray scanners, ventilators, defibrillators and MRI machines.

• Transportation has seen electricity making considerable headway, from electric vehicles and chargers, to buses, trains and commercial vehicles.

Science, Defence And Space Exploration

• Computing, artificial intelligence and robotics all rely on electric power.

• Electricity is used to power particle accelerators, which drive advanced research in physics.

• Satellites and space stations use electricity to support electronic systems,  exploration capabilities and communication.

• Naval and military systems rely on electricity to power the advanced electronics that control ships, aeroplanes, ground vehicles and weapons systems.

Technical Guide To Electricity

We’ve seen that electricity is a reactive force that comes from charged particles moving from one place to another. This movement of charged particles, known as electrons, can happen in various natural circumstances, like lightning, static electricity or bioelectric generation. Humans have also learned how to generate electricity by constructing mechanical and chemical reactions to produce it. The electrons flow through some form of conductor: in lightning, it’s a channel in the air, but in electrical engineering, it’s usually a wire that’s connected to an electrical circuit. 

There are several fundamental concepts that lie behind a full understanding of electricity: its types, terms of measurement, the ways you can construct a circuit and what laws govern it. Understanding these concepts opens the way for the efficient design, manipulation and optimisation of electrical systems.

Types Of Electricity

• Static, usually resulting from friction, where an electric charge accumulates on a material surface.

• Continuous current, created by passing an electric charge continuously through a conductor. This is subdivided into:

  • Direct current (DC), mostly found in batteries and storage, where the electrical charge flows in a single direction.

  • Alternating current (AC), found in most power grids, where the electric charge periodically changes its direction.

Some Essential Terms

• Current (I) denotes the rate at which the electrical charge flows through a circuit, and is measured in amperes (A).

• Voltage (V) is what forces the electrons through the conductor, representing the potential electrical difference –  measured in volts (V) – between two points. 

• Power (P) is measured in watts (W) and represents the level of transferred electrical energy from source to usage point.

• Resistance (R) denotes how much electrical opposition a given material has to the current flow, and is measured in ohms (Ω).

• Charge (Q) is the physical property of matter that produces a positive or negative electrostatic reaction to an electromagnetic field. It’s measured in coulombs (C).

Ohm’s Law

Georg Simon Ohm was a German scientist who initiated the analysis of electrical circuits. He figured out the fundamental relationships in electrical circuits between current, voltage and resistance. His law is expressed as the equation V = I × R, where:

V = Voltage (volts)

I  = Current (amperes)

R = Resistance (ohms)

Electrical Circuits

A basic electrical circuit comprises:

• A power source such as a generator or battery, to provide energy. 

• Conductors for the flow of current, such as wires or paths.

• The electrical load, such as motors or bulbs, that use the electricity.

• Switches to control how the electricity flows in the circuit.

• Energy consumption, measured in Watts (W), stated as P = V × I

For example, an electrical device functioning at 120V that draws 2A will consume power at the rate P = 120V × 2A = 240W. Using this formula helps work out how much energy a device consumes and how efficient it is.

Electricity For The Future

The world depends on electricity, and the more we advance, the more of it we need. We have to consider how we’re going to meet the rising demand for energy while not depleting global resources to an irremediable level. The future of electricity, therefore, lies in increasing efficiency and exploiting renewable energy sources for greater sustainability. Meanwhile, researchers continue to introduce new innovations to support these initiatives.

Renewable Energy And Sustainability

Climate change is a very real problem that the world’s governments are trying to address. Companies worldwide are investing more time and funds in research, both to reach the net-zero goal of carbon emissions and to find more sustainable sources of energy. One of the most significant changes in the way we generate electricity is the adoption of more renewable energy sources:

• Solar power has become a lot more viable due to advancements in solar panel technology and battery storage. Scientists are experimenting with new materials that make panels thinner and better at absorbing light. They’re also looking at more sustainable source materials and different ways of using solar panels, such as incorporating them into roads, car parks, fences and porticoes.

• Wind turbines are getting more efficient at generating electricity, and they’re spread more widely across both land and sea locations. Protests about their environmental impact are increasing, however, citing disruption of natural habitats, physical danger to animals, noise and carbon emissions.

• Hydroelectric dams have been established for a long time, but there’s increasing interest in harnessing the long-term power of the ocean with wave energy converters.  

• Geothermal energy is another expanding area of interest for generating electricity, which involves harnessing the heat from the earth’s crust, either from drilling down deep into rock or from high-pressure steam emissions. 

Smart Grids

Smart grids are beginning to replace the traditional type of power grid. They leverage digital technology to provide additional features and functions that optimise the distribution and storage of electricity. Smart grids are also designed to aid the integration of renewable energy solutions and promote sustainability. Digitising and automating the grids provides them with greater reliability and flexibility, and a certain amount of future-proofing capacity. Smart grids are able to:

• Monitor and control the supply of electricity in response to real-time demand.

• Improve energy management by integrating battery storage.

• Automate the detection and repair of faults to reduce power outages.

AI And Automation

Incorporating AI into power management systems can:

• Monitor power usage and predict demand, then adjust the supply to correspond.

• Improve energy efficiency in all sorts of sectors, from homes to commercial and industrial premises.

• Enhance the security of power grids to protect them from cyber threats.

Wireless And Other New Technologies

We’re already familiar with wireless electricity transmission for things like computers and smart devices. Research is continuing into how this could be expanded for commerce and industry, as well as in the home. Some directions of innovation include:

• Wireless charging technology is used to reduce reliance on batteries and plug-in mains charging.

• Increased options for network charging to support Iot and IIoT applications.

• Ultra-efficient superconductors that would greatly reduce the loss of energy during transmission.

• A variety of ways to use roads and pavements to generate and/or transmit electricity.

The Evolution Of Electricity

It’s been a long journey from Egyptian electric fish to modern electronics. Electricity has improved our quality of life, brought about technological revolutions and transformed industry. Moving into the future, we can see the next evolutionary steps for electricity, including enhanced wireless technologies, smart grids and more sustainable energy solutions. We can expect new discoveries and progressive technological innovations that will make electric power cleaner, more efficient, and more widely accessible.