Random facts and questions on Electricity for kids

Just take a moment and think about all the things in your house and school that works with electricity.  You must have been without electricity for a few hours before and it is no fun. We are not use to it, but we do take electricity for granted. 

Many people live without electricity in their houses, so next time you switch on a light, be thankful that you have electricity.

We measure the electric current in Amperes and the electrical potential energy in Volts.

Have you ever dragged your feet over a carpet and then when you touch the doorknob you shock?  Or when you take your clothes off in winter time you see some sparks in the dark?  That is when static electricity is present.

There is also static electricity in nature in the form of lightning.  Benjamin Franklin actually invented the lightning rod in the 1800's that takes the electricity from the lightning safely to the ground from a high building and prevent the lightning hitting the building.

Believe it or not, but electricity even plays a role in our bodies and makes our heart beat.  The heart pulls together because of electrical impulses going through it.

Electrons move in the electrical wire and there are two types of electrical flow - AC and DC.  DC is direct current which means the electrons only move in one direction and AC is the electricity we use in our houses and that is alternating current and it means the electrons move up and down in different directions.

Back in the 1880’s there was even a ‘war of currents’ between Thomas Edison (who helped invent DC) and Nikola Tesla (who helped invent AC). Both wanted their system to be used with AC eventually winning out due to the fact that it is safer and can be used over longer distances. 

Watch the video and answer the questions.

1. Which things in your house will not work if there is now electricity?
2. Explain in your own words how coal is used to generate electricity.
3. What type of energy is 'moving energy'?
4. Name 2 types of electricity.
5. When is electricity 'static electricity' and give an example.
6. What is 'current electricity' and give an example.
7. How is electricity measured?
8. Name a few safety rules when using electricity.