WHAT IS ELECTRICAL ENERGY?

EVERYTHING AROUND US, FROM WAKE UP, VEHICLES,  FANS, ELECTRICAL GADGETS MANY THINS WE USE IN OUR DAILY LIFE, we rely on electric energy to sail smoothly through each day. Energy is the ability to do work or apply force to move an object. The movement of electric charges causes electrical energy. In the case of electrical energy, the force is the electrical attraction or repulsion between charged particles. The faster the electric charges move, the more electrical energy they carry.

How Does Electrical Energy Work?

electrical energy comes from, we have to start by looking at the atom, which is the building block of all matter. Each atom has a nucleus in its center. The nucleus consists of positively charged particles called protons, and particles called neutrons that have no charge. Electrons, which are negatively charged particles, orbit around the nucleus. These orbits are called shells. Each shell can contain only a certain number of electrons: the first shell can hold 2 electrons, the second shell can hold 8 electrons, the third shell can hold up to 18, and so on.

                                         

Because the electrons are negatively charged, the electrons in the shells closest to the nucleus have a strong force of attraction to the positively charged protons. However, that connection weakens as you move away from the nucleus to the outermost shell, which is known as the valence shell. The electrons in that shell are called valence electrons. The valence electrons are weakly connected to the atom, and thus can be forced out of their orbits when they come into contact with another atom. This electron movement from one atom to another results in electrical energy. Materials that are conductors, like most metals, allow electrons to move freely through them. Insulators, like plastic or glass, limit the movement of the electrons, holding them tightly.

 

Difference Between Electrical Energy and Electricity

Electricity and electric energy are commonly thought to be one and the same; however, this is not true. Electric energy comes from the transfer of energy resulting from the movement of electrons between atoms, which is known as work. This work generates electric energy, which is measured in Joules. This electric energy can be converted into different forms. When the electron flow of electrical energy is channeled through a conductor, like a wire, it becomes electricity. Electricity is measured in Watts. Therefore, while all electricity is electrical energy, not all electrical energy is electricity. Electricity is a type of energy that can build up in one place, or flow from one place to another. When electricity gathers in one place it is called static electricity. The electricity that moves from one place to another is called current electricity. Static electricity often happens when you rub things together. For example, when you rub a balloon on your head it causes opposite static charges to build up both on your hair and the balloon. When you pull the balloon slowly away from your head, these two opposite static charges attract one another making your hair stand up. Current electricity is the electricity that powers our homes and electrical devices.