Transporting Electricity Infosheet
Transporting Electricity Infosheet
Transporting Electricity Infosheet
Lets follow the path of electricity from a power plant to a light bulb
in your home. First, the electricity is generated at a power plant. It
travels through a wire to a transformer that steps up the voltage.
Power plants step up the voltage because less electricity is lost along
the power lines when it is at higher voltage.
Generating Electricity
Most of the electricity we use in the United States is generated
by large power plants. These plants use many fuels to produce
electricity. Thermal power plants use coal, biomass, petroleum, or
natural gas to superheat water into steam, which powers a generator
to produce electricity. Nuclear power plants use fission to produce
the heat. Geothermal power plants use heat from inside the earth.
Wind farms use the kinetic energy in the wind to generate electricity,
while hydropower plants use the energy in moving water.
Moving Electricity
We use more electricity every year. One reason we use so much
electricity is that its easy to move from one place to another. It can
be made at a power plant and moved long distances before it is used.
There is also a standard system in place so that all of our machines
and appliances can operate on electricity. Electricity makes our lives
simpler and easier.
TRANSPORTING ELECTRICITY
Power plant
generates electricity
Transmission line
carries electricity
long distances
Transformer
steps up voltage
for transmission
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Distribution line
carries electricity
to house
Neighborhood
transformer
steps down voltage
Transformer on pole
steps down voltage
before entering house