Electricity Has Many Uses

Devices that use electricity change electrical energy into other types of energy such as light or heat.

A computer changes electrical energy into light, sound and heat.

Many devices have electrical motors. Electrical motors are machines that change electrical energy into energy of motion.

A magnet is an object that attracts iron and a few other metals.

Magnetism is a physical property of matter. Magnets push and pull because of their magnetic field.

A magnetic field is the space around the magnet where the force of the magnet acts.

A magnet has two ends or poles. A pole is the part of the magnet where it's magnetic field is strongest. One pole is called the south pole and one pole is called the north pole.

Two north poles are alike. If you put them near each other they will repel each other. The same for two south poles together.

A north and a south pole near each other will attract or pull each other together.

If you coil a wire around an iron nail and connect both ends of the wire to a battery then you will turn the piece of metal into an electromagnet.

A device in which electric current produces magnetism is called an electromagnet.

Electromagnets are used in junkyards to move heavy pieces of metal.

Today, every electric motor contains at least one electromagnet. You can find electromagnets in telephones, doorbells, speakers and computers

A generator is a device that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy.

Some generating stations use renewable resources like falling water, wind, sunlight to convert into electrical energy.

Some generating stations use nonrenewable resources like oil. gas, coal to convert to electrical energy.