Electricity for children - what is electricity and where does it come from?

Imagine, you and your child are getting ready to watch a cartoon or an educational program, lay down on the sofa, and suddenly your child asks: “What makes the TV/phone/tablet work?” It seems that the answer is simple - from electricity, but you don’t need to be Nostradamus to predict the next question that will come from a child: “Where does electricity come from?” And here many parents are stupefied, especially those who did not finish physics and mathematics, and their profession is in no way connected with this direction.

Of course, you can answer as simply as the previous question: “Electricity comes from the outlet.” But so that your child receives a complete and clear answer, in an accessible and understandable language, without abstruse formulas and definitions that most physics textbooks are written in, we suggest staying on this page and reading, perhaps not new, but useful and informative information.

What is electricity?

The word “electricity” itself, or more precisely, “electric” force, appeared more than 2000 years ago in Ancient Greece. People have noticed that if you rub amber on wool, the stone begins to attract various small objects. Amber in ancient Greek was called “electron”, hence the name itself.

But the study of the mysterious phenomenon did not progress beyond simple experiments with static electricity among the Ancient Greeks. And the essence of the whole phenomenon began to be revealed much later. Scientists have found that surrounding objects consist of elementary particles: protons and electrons. These two types of particles have an electric charge: the electron has a negative charge, but the proton has a positive charge. Attracted to each other, they closely interact and, depending on the number of protons and electrons, form atoms of different matters.

The protons themselves are located in the nucleus of the atom, but the electrons rotate around them in a circle. Atoms with the same number of protons as the number of electrons have zero charge. For example, if an amber stone lies on its own and no one touches it, then its atoms also have zero charge. But if you rub amber atoms against wool atoms, the electrons from the wool will instantly move to the amber ones, and their “excess” will make the charge negative. Such a pebble with “new strength” begins to attract small objects with a zero or positive charge, and if the object has a negative charge, it will repel them.

A lightning strike perfectly demonstrates the incredible power of electricity. The intense flash of light is created naturally by static electricity. We actively use electricity to power our homes, schools, factories and factories.

What is electricity?

Electricity is not just what is in an electric battery. Electricity is one of the basic components of our Universe. Everything that surrounds us is made of invisible atoms; atoms, in turn, consist of particles that can carry an electric charge. The charge can be either positive or negative. Particles with the same charge repel, and particles with different charges attract. When a charged particle starts moving, we get electricity, which is used everywhere.

The amazing power of electricity

Electricity exists in nature and lightning demonstrates this to us perfectly. Lightning appears when a strong wind begins to electrify a cloud and part of it becomes positively charged and part negatively. This eventually creates static electricity, which forms lightning. Electricity can be very dangerous and can even cause harm to your health.

How many forms of electricity are there?

Electrons can move due to electrical voltage when current flows through an electrical circuit or not move directionally. Typically, most materials are neutral (have no charge). But if a material gains or loses a large number of electrons, it becomes charged with static electricity.

What is electrostatic induction?

Electrical induction is the process by which one charged object can charge another object without making contact with it. For example, a charged plastic hair comb attracts pieces of paper.

How does electrical induction work?

When the comb is brought close to the paper, the negative charge on the comb pushes the electrons in the paper away from it. This creates a positive charge on the side of the paper facing it. Positive and negative charges attract each other, which is why the paper is attracted to the ridge.

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Electric current is an organized group of electrons

But how does electricity live in an outlet if everything is so dispersed in this circuit?

Almost all atoms can lose and gain electrons. So, if some have an excess of them, and others have a deficiency, then the electrons directed by electrical forces will rush to where they are lacking. This flow is called electric current.

Among the concepts familiar to us, electric current is similar to a river, which, spilling into many branches, powers electrical appliances. But before sending this stream of negatively charged particles, do they need to be taken from somewhere?

The best minds of the last millennium struggled with this issue, but the first to make a breakthrough was the Italian scientist Alessandro Volta, who in 1800 invented the first battery, called the “Volta Pillar,” thereby giving the world a reliable source of constant electricity. In gratitude for such a discovery, the scientist’s name was immortalized, and since that time, current voltage has been measured in volts.

Where does electricity come from?

Despite the fact that the “Volta Pillar” made a breakthrough in the science of that time, over the next 200 years a lot of more global discoveries were made and many ways to produce electric current were discovered, for which huge structures were built and the latest technologies were used! And now, in order.

TPP - thermal power plant

To generate current, a turboelectric generator is installed at the thermal power plant, consisting of:

the fixed part is a stator in the form of a bipolar magnet;
a rotating rotor, which is wound with copper wire, since this metal is considered the best and most accessible conductor.

The continuous rotation of the magnet constantly changes the polarity (poles) causing the electrons in the wire to move, as in the example with amber and wool, only on a larger scale. But for this whole mechanism to work and electricity to be generated, “something” must spin a huge turbine. For this purpose, huge boilers are installed at thermal power plants that heat water to 450 ℃, causing it to turn into steam. Next, under high pressure, steam flows from the boiler onto the blades attached to the rotor, and starts it into operation at an incredible speed - 3000 revolutions per minute!

NPP - nuclear power plant

Here, just like in the thermal power plant, a turboelectric generator is installed, but the very dangerous, but energy-efficient Uranium-235 is responsible for heating the water. In order for it to release heat, huge nuclear reactors are built at nuclear power plants, in which Uranium-235 breaks down into small particles, which generates a large amount of energy used to heat water to steam and start a turboelectric generator.

HPP - hydroelectric power station

A safer, but no less effective way to obtain energy. Although it will require the construction of a whole chain of hydraulic structures in order to create the necessary water pressure to ensure the operation of the turbines of the electric generator. And then the principle is the same as in the previous two power plants: the rotor rotates and electricity is generated.

Wind stations

They look majestic and beautiful, and even in ancient times, with the help of the power of the wind, huge mechanisms such as windmills were put into operation.

In the modern world, they decided to improve this mechanism and use it to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy. The principle is as follows: the wind pushes huge blades, which put the generator rotor into operation, and it, as we know from the example of the first three power plants, produces current.

But in this way, with the help of one wind generator, you cannot provide even a small town with electricity, which is why a whole network of huge mechanisms, consisting of 100 or more units, is installed.

MAGAZINE Preschooler.RF

Project “Where did the light come to our house from?” for senior preschool age

Project leaders, teachers of the “Bees” :

Karnaeva E.A
Zaitseva I.Yu
Starovoitova E.A.

Vyritsa 2022 MBDOU "Kindergarten No. 50 combined type"

Type and type of project: educational-research, creative, group.

Duration: short term.

Implementation time: two weeks.

Project participants: senior preschoolers, teachers, parents.

Relevance.

The most valuable and lasting knowledge is obtained by a person independently. We often underestimate the importance of a child's research activities. By teaching children skills, adults often deprive them of the opportunity to make their own discoveries. Modern education in the context of the Federal State Educational Standard requires targeted work to develop research abilities, specially organized training of students in research skills, and preparation for research activities.

The goal of the project: to learn what electricity is, how to handle it and use it economically.

Tasks:

expand students’ knowledge about electricity, electrical appliances, the benefits and dangers of electricity; about the rules for using it; about the history of lighting devices.
enrich, clarify and activate vocabulary on the topic; develop the grammatical structure of the language; work on the syllabic structure of words; form coherent speech.
contribute to the development of pupils’ interest in research and experiments.
develop mental activity, attention, imagination, memory, fine motor skills (appliqué, drawing, design).
develop basic skills of safe behavior in everyday life when handling electrical appliances.

Project implementation stages.

Preparatory.

Selecting a project topic.
Selection of illustrations, visual aids and equipment, material for energy saving reminders.
Studying methodological and educational literature to prepare for joint activities (outdoor, didactic games, conversations).
Conversations with parents about the project.

Main stage.

Cognitive and social-communicative development.

Conversations: “How did people used to light their homes?” , “Where does electricity come to us from?” , “Electricity is dangerous!” , conversation with a kindergarten electrician

Excursions: to the electrical panel, to the laundry (observation of the work of the laundry employee, what electrical appliances he uses in his work)

Demonstration of power tools and a story about their use (worker A.V. Stepanov)

View presentations and educational cartoons: “The history of electricity” , “Magic electricity” , “Household electrical appliances” , “Electric current” , “How do the lights turn on?” (the adventure of Sparkle and her friends), “We want to know everything” (episode 24. Electricity).

Didactic games: “How the lamp came to our house” , “You can - you can’t” ,

“Collect a picture” , “Be careful” , “What’s missing?” .

Experimentation (using the children's digital laboratory “Naurasha in the country of Naurandiya” ): “Is there an electric current in vegetables and fruits?” , “Creating electricity using a dynamo .

Thematic role-playing games: “Electrical appliance store” (lanterns and lamps), “We are electricians” , “Household appliance store” (equipment: cards with images of household appliances).

Speech development.

Learning and composing riddles about electrical appliances.

Conversations: “Electrical appliances are our helpers” ; "What is electricity?" .

Speech games: “One is many” , “Call it affectionately” , “what has changed?” , “Complete the sentence” , “Say with the word “no”” , “Count” , “Which word is different from the others?” , “What’s extra?” , “Say the opposite” , “Kitchen helpers” , “Dunno’s mistakes” , “If it doesn’t work...?” .

Compiling a descriptive story based on the mnemonic table “Tell about an electrical appliance .

Artistic and aesthetic development.

Reading: I. Review “Electricity is my friend” , “Safety Lessons” , poems by O. Emelyanov “What goes into the socket?” , A. Valevsky “Electricity” .

Application “Incandescent lamp, energy-saving lamp” .

Drawing: “Lanterns in the city park” , “Lamp on the table” , “Electrical appliances are our helpers” .

Construction of "Lanterns" .

Physical development.

Outdoor games: “Electric current - powerful flow” , “Electric circuit” .

Physical education lesson: “Current runs through wires .

Working with parents.

Preparation of instructions for parents on the economical use of electricity.
Distributing “Let’s be frugal” .
Information for parents "Safe handling of electricity for adults and children" .
Creative task: getting to know electrical appliances at home, taking photographs of them and writing a descriptive story.

The final stage

Entertainment "Magic Electricity" .
Organization of the exhibition “From a Splinter to a Light Bulb” .
Release of a wall newspaper.

Analysis of project results.

During the project implementation:

the pupils were passionate about various activities on the topic and developed their creative abilities;
improved the ability to carry out experimental activities, establish cause-and-effect relationships in the world around them;
the vocabulary has expanded and become more active;

The work carried out brought together children, parents and teachers.

References.

Golitsina N.S., Lyuzina S.V., Bukharova E.E. Life safety for older preschoolers. Work system. M.: Scriptorium, 2013.
Dybina O.B. What happened before...Games that travel into the past of objects. M.: Sfera, 2010.
Zhuravleva V.N. Project activities of older preschoolers. M.: Uchitel, 2011.
Need T.D. The world of things. Encyclopedia for kids. Miracle is everywhere. Yaroslavl: Academy of Development, 1998.
Experimental activities in preschool educational institutions. Lesson notes for different age groups. Compiled by Nishcheva N.V. St. Petersburg: Childhood - Press, 2022.
Tugusheva G.P., Chistyakova A.E. Experimental activities of middle and senior preschool age. St. Petersburg: Childhood - Press, 2008.
Shutyaeva E. A. Naurasha in the country of Naurandiya. Digital laboratory for preschoolers and primary schoolchildren. M.: Yuventa, 2016.

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A little history

The world's first public power plant, Pearl Street, was built in New York in 1882. It was designed and installed by none other than Thomas Edison. And he didn’t even charge a fee for using the generated electricity until the entire mechanism worked smoothly and without interruptions.

But the “great-grandmother” of all stations could light only 10,000 lamps, although even at that time this was something supernatural. At the same time, modern power plants produce thousands of times more, providing electricity to cities with a population of 100,000 people!

How does electric current enter homes?

After power plants generate current, it travels through a cable to a distribution substation for measurement and conversion. Transformers installed there increase the voltage to 10,000 volts. Thanks to this voltage, current is transmitted over long distances with minimal losses at an incredible speed of up to 3000 km per second!

Then the current flows to a step-down substation, where transformers reduce the voltage to 220 volts - the standard adopted in the Russian Federation. And then the electricity is sent to the city’s distribution networks, and from there to your house and apartment. This is the difficult path he takes to charge our phone, light a light bulb or make the refrigerator work.

How does current make electrical appliances work?

But how does current manage to power electrical devices? For a visual understanding, let's take a regular incandescent lamp as a basis and return to our small particles.

As electrons travel at incredible speeds through the light bulb's spiral, they continually collide with the metal atoms that make up the spiral. The atoms wobble and their temperature rises greatly. Thus, the electric current heats the lamp spiral to 3000 degrees, causing it to begin to glow. This is why the use of any metal is not suitable for the spiral, because it will simply melt due to the high temperature.

Modern devices - mobile phones, TVs, microwave ovens - use more complex circuits, but the principle remains the same: due to the rapid flow of particles, the atoms of the conductors heat up, which releases energy and starts the devices to work.

Not only a friend, but also an enemy!

Of course, electricity is an important and irreplaceable invention for all mankind. With its help people:

they have made and are making a lot of discoveries every day;
treat diseases that were fatal in the past;
drive electric vehicles without polluting the environment with exhaust gases;
can travel the world, learn and see sights without leaving home!

All the benefits of electricity simply cannot be described in one article!

But with all this, the current can be dangerous and in a split second take the life of any living creature.

By the way, an interesting fact. Birds that sit on high-voltage wires do not receive a shock due to the fact that they receive the same voltage as in the cable itself. The fact is that they sit only on one phase, but if suddenly the bird’s tail or other part of the body touches the ground, a pole or another wire, the current will immediately hit it.

Fairy tale “How the fox and the wolf learned about electricity”

Tatyana Flukh

Fairy tale “How the fox and the wolf learned about electricity”

The fairy tale of how the fox and the wolf learned about electricity.

goals: to give children an idea of electricity , electricity ; expand children’s understanding of where electricity and how it helps people; establish rules for safe behavior when handling household electrical appliances ; cultivate a desire to save energy , develop an interest in understanding the world.

In one forest there lived a Fox and everything would have been fine if not for this story that happened to her. One day she decided to visit the chicken coop, crept closer and saw that something was shining - it was a light. Jumping back in fear, she broke the electrical wire and the light went out . There was a commotion in the chicken coop. She was overcome by curiosity and wanted to touch this wire, but the woodpecker, who was sitting on an electric pole and hollowing out a hollow for himself , managed to warn the Fox in time about the danger. To find out what electricity , the woodpecker advised to contact the Wise Owl, who would certainly tell her about it.

The fox smiled slyly and decided to take the woodpecker’s advice, and the woodpecker hurried to send his telegram about the damage to the email. wires to people who troubleshoot problems, electricians . And the Fox is already in a hurry to go to Aunt Owl’s lesson at the forest school. On the way, she met the Wolf and told him that happened to her .

And so they came to school together, where the forest animals were already sitting in class and listening to her story . The Wolf and the Fox also sat down and began to listen.

Electricity is our friend and helper , but it can turn into an enemy. Aunt Owl talked about the rules for safe handling of electrical appliances using pictures . Then she introduced the rules:

1. When leaving home, you must turn off the TV and tape recorder, iron and other household items. Electrical appliances that are turned on and left unattended can cause a fire.

2. You cannot pull the electrical wire ; you only need to pick up the plug.

3. Under no circumstances should you approach or touch exposed wires. This is life-threatening.

4. Do not touch electrical appliances .

5. Do not insert any objects into the socket. Carnations and fingers... Not plugging electricity into an outlet is dangerous : everyone should know this.

6. Do not use electrical appliances with damaged wires.

The Fox and the Wolf listened carefully and remembered. At the end of the lesson, Aunt Owl gave her students magical electrical items . Lisa-Patrikeevna chose an electric iron to iron her outfits. The wolf liked the electric kettle . He invited the forest dwellers to tea.

Rules for safe handling of electricity for children

Young children do not understand the dangers of handling electricity. Of course, we are now not talking about toys powered by 12-volt batteries, but about a dangerous and powerful “beast” that lives in sockets. Therefore, children should not be left near sockets without special plugs, and even without parental supervision.

For older children, it is worth having a conversation and explaining the following rules. It is forbidden:

Place or hang foreign objects on the device cable.
Twist the cable into knots.
Use dirty wire.
Use an electrical appliance near heat sources: radiators, stoves, ovens, etc.
Plug several powerful devices into one outlet at the same time. Show your child where and how you can see the power, or make a list in advance of what you can turn on and what you can’t.
Use or try to repair a broken electrical appliance, including if the insulation (integrity) of the cable is broken, the plug is damaged, etc.
Handle the device or cable with wet hands.
Pull the cord (you need to unplug the device from the outlet while holding the plug).

Unforeseen situations may also arise:

sparks from the socket;
smoke from a cable or device;
burning smell, etc.

In this case, it is necessary to show the child where the electrical panel is and how to turn it off, and explain that after a power outage it is necessary to call one of the adults.

How to teach your child about electricity

Electricity surrounds children everywhere: at home, on the street, in kindergarten, in toys and household appliances - it is difficult to remember an area of human activity where we could do without electricity. Therefore, children’s interest in this topic is understandable. Although a story about the properties of electricity is not only a matter of curiosity, but also... the safety of the baby!

At 2-3 years old, a little man begins a period when he is interested in everything. What is it, why, how does it work, why is it this way and not something else, how is it used, what is useful or harmful - a million questions a day are guaranteed for mom and dad. Moreover, the sphere of interests of the “why” is extensive: he is concerned with both mundane topics (like what money is or the New Year) and sublime ones (what space is, what love is). And questions about electricity are also natural. What is current, where does it come from and where does it go when we flip the switch? Why does the light bulb glow from electricity and the TV work? How does daddy's tablet or his musical toys work without a wire to an outlet? Why is the current so dangerous that parents forbid even approaching this outlet? The options are countless! Of course, you can brush them off, saying that the child is too young to understand this topic (from the point of view of science, electricity is such a complex concept that you can talk about it no earlier than 12-14 years old). But this approach is wrong. Moreover, from the point of view of both education and safety. Even if the baby does not understand the physics of the process, he is quite capable of knowing the essence of electric current and treating it with due respect.

Electricity: bees or electrons?

So let's start with a basic question: what is electricity? When communicating with a 2-3 year old child, several approaches are possible. First: gaming. You can tell your child that, for example, small bees or ants live inside the wires, which are virtually invisible to the human eye. And when the electrical appliance is turned off, they rest there, resting. But as soon as you connect it to the outlet (or press the switch if it is connected to the network), they begin to work: run or fly inside the wire back and forth tirelessly! And from this movement of theirs, energy is generated that lights a light bulb or allows certain devices to work. Moreover, the number of such bee-ants in the wire may vary. The more of them there are and the more actively they move, the higher the current strength - which means the larger the mechanism they can start. Simply put, to make a light bulb in a flashlight glow, you need very few of these “helpers,” but to illuminate a house, you need to have a much, much larger supply of electricity. And here it is important to emphasize: although such bees work for the benefit of people, they can be seriously offended if they are treated carelessly. Moreover, the matter will not be limited to insult - they can bite painfully and painfully (and the more bees, the stronger the bite will be). Therefore, you should not climb into a socket or disassemble an electrical appliance, or touch exposed wires of connected devices - the bees may not like the fact that someone is trying to interfere with their work...

Demonstrate electric current with examples

Whatever approach you choose in a story about electricity, the following question is logical for children: why, when the device is turned on, do bees or electrons begin to move in the wire, what makes them do this? In this case, it is necessary to talk in general terms about the structure of the electrical network, and it is advisable to do this with illustrative examples from the surrounding life or using photo and video materials. Tell us that all the wires in the house converge into one cable that contains the required number of electrons/bees for housing. Then he goes out into the street and, leaning on pillars, leads to a factory where these particles are produced - such a factory is called a power plant. You can tell how they are produced (by burning coal, driven by a hydroelectric power station or wind turbines, by solar panels) if the child shows interest in this. But usually in 2-3 years the concept that there is a factory where they make “electric bees” or electrons is enough. Although no one forbids you to conduct a small but visual experiment with your child. You will need a simple dynamo: with a light bulb and a knob that turns the light on. Your little one will surely be delighted to see that he can produce electricity with his own hands! Moreover, as soon as he stops turning the handle, the light immediately goes out - very clearly and simply.

Teach how to handle electricity carefully!

Just remember: your goal is not to intimidate the child. If you go too far in this matter, there is a high risk that fear of electricity will take root in the baby’s soul. He will be terrified of it, it will be difficult for him to use electrical appliances, he will avoid them and try not to turn them on himself. It is better not to scare, but to teach accuracy and careful handling of current. Therefore, talk about the risks, but do not embellish all the details too much.

To learn how to handle electricity, pay attention to these points:

You cannot turn on any electrical appliances in the house without the permission of adults; they must know that the baby turns on and off the TV, baby monitor or other large electrical appliance;

It is unacceptable to disassemble electrical appliances, even if they are unplugged from the outlet or the child thinks that some part needs to be replaced - for example, a burnt-out light bulb in a night light;