ELECTRICITY FAQ | | ELECTRICITY MISCONCEPTIONS | ALL ELECTRICITY ARTICLES

Comment book archive: 2004

Also see: ELECTRICITY ANSWERS

Thank you for visiting SCIENCE MISCONCEPTIONS: ELECTRICITY. You can Add new questions to the list below. Also check out the other comment books for Science Hobbyist site

NO HOMEWORK QUESTIONS! No cheating. Do your own homework, don't ask others to do your research.

NO SPAMMERS! Submitted entries are NOT posted here automatically. They first are reviewed by the site owner. If you want to advertise on the internet you should pay for it.

my question is this that can we transform electricity with any another way thanks
ali <asa_hagh@yahoo.com>
shiraz, USA - Thursday, December 16, 2004 at 04:13:42 (PST)

What is the minium size wire on a 40A circuit? a grounded conductor is what color? what is the colorr code for a 120/240 v 4w WYE system? What is the color used to indenify the "high" leg of 120/240 v4w delta system?
Wiliam Johnathan Jr <jentinc1@cox.net>
Chesapeake, Va USA - Wednesday, December 15, 2004 at 06:21:48 (PST)

how to make a battery from a potato. how is electricity possible using potatoes?
Zach Halfacre <kjp714@yahoo.com>
Norris City, IL USA - Tuesday, December 14, 2004 at 12:13:33 (PST)

well if i have motor a.c. so it need electrical input power from which machine i could get this power and which one is the best
diana <lucky_angele@hotmail.com>
sudbury, ca canada - Monday, December 13, 2004 at 17:48:01 (PST)

Why is current electricity more dangerous than static electricity?
Jovan <jo_val7@yahoo.com>
Angono, Rizal Philippines - Saturday, December 11, 2004 at 23:35:56 (PST)

as an electron moves from a negatively charged point to a positively charge point, it loses potential energy. is this true of false?
william shaw <willish84@hotmail.com>
hayden, id USA - Wednesday, December 08, 2004 at 16:27:13 (PST)

Sorry about that other message. But these questions you come up with are really helpfull.Sometimes I have trouble in science learning about electricity.I just wanted to say that this site is very vey helpfull.SEE YAH!
keha <keha@hawaii.rr.com>
laie, oahu USA - Monday, December 06, 2004 at 23:05:00 (PST)

Matt's script archive you'r science questions help me in science.
Keha <keha@hawaii.rr.com>
laie, Oahu USA - Monday, December 06, 2004 at 23:00:25 (PST)

I have searched the internet to discover the answer to my question to no avail. I have a weird thing happening. I have a waterbed and when I plug the waterbed heater into one o fmy outlets and I am lying on the bed, I can touch another person and their skin feels like it is vibrating. It is sort of like a tingle to my finger tips. I think the outlet is not grounded and can be part of the problem. It is not the heater itself I have just replace the heater because of this problem surfacing. I need to know if this is of a danger to me or others who may sleep in the bed? Please help. Sincerely, Pam
Pam Rowe <crowe141@comcast.com>
Mobile, Al USA - Monday, December 06, 2004 at 08:06:50 (PST)

tell me the type of condutor and insulator used in electricity thank
korede kehinde <adebyekorede@yahoo.com>
lagos, nigeria. - Saturday, December 04, 2004 at 12:31:12 (PST)

i know that we have body electricity to help our brain work so we can move around,but is it posible to somehow harnest our own body electricity to make a light bulb turn on.
norberto <norbotronway2cool@sbcglobal.net>
dallas, TX USA - Saturday, December 04, 2004 at 10:54:29 (PST)

what are the main uses for electricity
caleb smith <monkey_boy_360@hotmail.com>
oroville, ca USA - Thursday, December 02, 2004 at 20:43:45 (PST)

who fist dicovered it and how?
caleb smith <monkey_boy_360@hotmail.com>
oroville, ca USA - Thursday, December 02, 2004 at 20:41:50 (PST)

how elctrons flow in an electrical circuit? and how does a battery affect the directions of wheels in a car that will rotate?
lorena galvan <lordinda@sbcglobal.net>
san leandro, ca USA - Thursday, December 02, 2004 at 18:40:02 (PST)

what kind of particles make up copper metal?????????
Ho Wei Liang <howeiliang79@hotmail.com>
Singapore - Wednesday, December 01, 2004 at 21:43:45 (PST)

what kind of particles make up copper??????
Ho Wei Liang <howeiliang79@hotmail.com>
Singapore - Wednesday, December 01, 2004 at 21:42:11 (PST)

you didn't answer my question about the which liquids conducts electrity the best
ceshawanna <ceshawanna_miller@yahoo.com>
chicago, ill USA - Wednesday, December 01, 2004 at 09:39:31 (PST)

What's the different between electromotive force (EMF)and differential potential?
Zila <kakteh_4276@yahoo.com>
Malaysia - Sunday, November 28, 2004 at 20:54:41 (PST)

What is the difference of ac between ac and dc motors?
Trisha <trishaann_214@yahoo.com>
Bulacan, 02 Philippines - Sunday, November 28, 2004 at 20:41:08 (PST)

I need to know what are the electrical needs in USA for 2003 to finish my problem. I didn't find anything specific in other sites. thank you very much!
ligia sabatinni <ligia_kls@yahoo.com>
philadelphia, PA USA - Sunday, November 28, 2004 at 16:29:44 (PST)

I have an appliance that is multi tap and uses one thousand watts, at 120V it uses close to 9 amps if you rewire it to 240V it uses more like 4.5 amps. My question is does the appliance use 4.5 amps over each leg or does the appliance have a total draw of 4.5 amps, at the 240V setting. If you were to run this appliance 3 phase 208V would you be looking at 2.5 amps over two hot legs or would you be running 5 amps over each leg. Also what is the total amp draw over 3 phase 1/0 aluminum? I looked in an Ugly's Book and it said 135 amps for the 90 degree Celcius insulated(which it is) does that mean 135 amps over each hot leg or 135 amps total draw over all three wires. I'm very confused and looking for an answer. If you don't want to post this question could you at least e-mail me a way to answer these questions.
kelly o <kgo1@san.rr.com>
san diego, ca USA - Sunday, November 28, 2004 at 13:01:49 (PST)

would you connect a battery with a thick or thin copper wire if you do not want to object to become hot?
shawn <Clevcavs03@aol.cm>
youngstown, ohio USA - Monday, November 22, 2004 at 20:43:32 (PST)

what is the study of electricity?
jack <money@333>
cleveland, ohio USA - Thursday, November 18, 2004 at 14:26:33 (PST)

what is makes electricity?
eimohr abella <reven_jun@yahoo.com>
san carlos city, 12 USA - Thursday, November 18, 2004 at 04:36:58 (PST)

I want to ask you that if we convert AC to DC then what are the implication or uses of this conversion?
rita <rita_poswal@rediffmail.com>
Nalagarh, HP INDIA - Wednesday, November 17, 2004 at 22:38:31 (PST)

What is the relationship between electromagnetic fields and electrostatic. In other words, if there is a presence of a strong magnetic field is it more likly that i will experience more static problems
jaime <jortiz71@hotmail.com>
miami, fl USA - Tuesday, November 16, 2004 at 19:27:07 (PST)

how does static electricity effect the preformace of of batteries
Jay Figas
USA - Tuesday, November 16, 2004 at 14:54:12 (PST)

this site is a googlewhack. "nerdy filtration" congratulations!
BORED! <ceri.cadaver@gmail.com>
sheffield, uk - Tuesday, November 16, 2004 at 08:03:03 (PST)

Pls answer my questions briefly, -What are the different forms of electrical energy? -Who is Benjamin Franklin? Salamat!!!!! Thanks,Gailey-Philippines
Ghanda Gailey <eyanamallari2000@yahoo.com>
Manila, Philippines - Tuesday, November 16, 2004 at 01:05:44 (PST)

Pls answer my questions briefly, -What are the different forms of electrical energy? -Who is Benjamin Franklin? Thanks,Gailey-Philippines
Gailey <eyanamallari2000@yahoo.com>
Manila, Philippines - Tuesday, November 16, 2004 at 00:57:16 (PST)

I want to know... why DOESN'T THIS WEBSITE HAVE ANY PICTURES (YOU MIGHT HAVE SOME BUT GET MORE.) ANYWAY WWW.YAHOOLIGANSS.COM IS WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY BETTER THAN THIS PLACE. GET GOOD STUFF FOR KIDS AND GROWNUPS!!!!!!!!!!!
HFDGSS ANOMINUS <fleming@athotmail.com>
Tokyo, Japan - Monday, November 15, 2004 at 10:58:08 (PST)

what are the sources of electricity? How are those sources converted into electricity?
kate <e_kate_18@yahoo.com>
general santos city, philippines - Sunday, November 14, 2004 at 23:53:02 (PST)

WHY IS THE MOBLLITY OF ELECTRONS HIGHER THAN THAT OF HOLES WHEN HOLES ACTUALLY MEAN THE ABSENCE OF ELECTRONS?
gayathri <geevee1986>
coimbatore, tn INDIA - Saturday, November 13, 2004 at 20:22:01 (PST)

is electricity movement slowed when the wire is cold, is there going to be a big lose if there is? same for hot, is the movemnt of the electricity made faster, flow easier? how can you test that?
mike <michaelplaner@juno.com>
strausstown, pa USA - Friday, November 12, 2004 at 16:06:51 (PST)

1.can siver lose electrons or discharge electrons by just letting it vibrate to a high frequency sound? 2. can sound generate electricity?
april marie bobilles <eprol_marie@yahoo.com>
cebu, philippines - Friday, November 12, 2004 at 01:46:01 (PST)

are electric currents only on the surface of a wire?
lyca <keitlyp@yahoo.com>
scc, neg. occ phil - Friday, November 12, 2004 at 00:21:45 (PST)

żdoes some material that changes weight when passing electricity exist? Thanks
Pedro Fernandez <pedro@cpamexico.com>
San Antonio, TX USA - Wednesday, November 10, 2004 at 11:31:30 (PST)

How can I explain electricity to preschool children?
Londa Battle <ebattle_ 1986@yahoo.com>
ADEL , GA USA - Tuesday, November 09, 2004 at 10:45:03 (PST)

Could electricity run through a wire with out plastic ?
Hector <sonofdeath205@hotmail.com>
chicago, ill USA - Friday, November 05, 2004 at 15:55:41 (PST)

Say, for simplicity, you take a 9v battery and add 2 cells to it making it effectively a 12v battery. How can this "small" battery have the same voltage as a 12v car battery?
John Drapcho <johneast@nccw.net>
Akron, OH USA - Wednesday, November 03, 2004 at 22:10:44 (PST)

are sine waves as dangerous as electo magnetic waves? we converted our house to dc with an inverter. our meter registers the waves as high emf. what does this mean?
kami wiss <kamidenny@yahoo.com>
USA - Wednesday, November 03, 2004 at 12:46:28 (PST)

1. How can static electricity be dangerous to people? Can you give an actual situation on this? 2. What are the common conductors and insulators at home? Can you give at least 10 examples for each kind? 3. Why and how can electricity travel in water and in gas?
henny martin <hennymartin@yahoo.com>
Paranaque, Philippines - Tuesday, November 02, 2004 at 18:47:40 (PST)

why do you guys tell us about why do not we use this kind of electricity to power our homes or offices?
shilpa <ameet_rai@hotmail.com>
edmonton, canada canada - Tuesday, November 02, 2004 at 18:23:32 (PST)

What is the reason that bus bars in 480v Switchgear have a slight gap between the conductors of the same phase?
jason ray <jasonjray@cox.net>
tulsa, ok USA - Tuesday, November 02, 2004 at 13:51:29 (PST)

why does a light bulb light up when you put it in a cup of water,place it in the microwave,then turn the microwave on?
Debbie <dmzp1964@yahoo.com>
tacoma, wash. USA - Tuesday, November 02, 2004 at 12:03:05 (PST)

Why do electrical systems have to be grounded? And what does it mean to be grounded?
Venus <venusnewton@adelphia.net>
Canton, Ga USA - Tuesday, November 02, 2004 at 12:03:00 (PST)

i have always wondered what kind of waves does electricity send out? trying to find the answer i have searched on many websites. i hope you can help me find the answer. THANKS!
Lisa Wang <www.asillisa.163.com.au>
N.S.W, Sydney Australia - Sunday, October 31, 2004 at 23:28:55 (PST)

what is the differance between a conductor and an insulator
fiona mitchell <mollyfi@tpg.com.au>
lagwarrin, vic australia - Wednesday, October 27, 2004 at 22:24:36 (PDT)

how does electricity flow to our homes?
meagan <dancestar23atcomcast.net>
denver, co USA - Monday, October 25, 2004 at 16:41:26 (PDT)

I have a tanning bed that consists of two halves (upper and lower) therefore there are 2 plugs (220v each), however, the 220v outlet on my wall is a single outlet, so I can only plug in one appliance at one time. Is there a multy 220 volt adaptor for the wall so I can plug 2 things in at once? the amps for that circuit are 20 amps. And the whole tanning bed combined is 16 amps (8 each half) so that should be fine. Where can I find a "pigtail" adaptor or do I have to just get an entire 2nd outlet installed in my wall next the the first one?
jenny armour <jarmourattfb.com>
fallbrook, ca USA - Monday, October 25, 2004 at 13:56:47 (PDT)

how much ohms of resistor or how many resistor do i needed so that i can plug my LED light to 220v of electricity?..
Ruel Quinanahan <wh3ng2004atyahoo.com>
danao, cebu philippines - Sunday, October 24, 2004 at 20:30:48 (PDT)

how does a static ball work? i have one and i always wondered how it work?
wesley <Enzo22sataol.com>
georgetown, sc USA - Wednesday, October 20, 2004 at 17:51:34 (PDT)

are u saying that electrical energy is found everywhere?.is it just that u just need moving particles to make electricity to move?. does this application go same with the dynamo?
vijay <vijay_ramakrishnan2003atyahoo.com>
singapore, singapore singapore - Wednesday, October 20, 2004 at 06:12:21 (PDT)

Who dicovered electricity?
Veeranna B Moli <veeranna_moliatyahoo.com>
Bangalore, Karnataka India - Wednesday, October 20, 2004 at 01:51:08 (PDT)

When I shut off all the breakers in my electric panel box other then the main breaker and all my breakers for outside electricity usage, my meter begins to slowly run backwards. Is this normal?
carol main <maindncatpshift.com>
USA - Saturday, October 16, 2004 at 15:14:35 (PDT)

Why do some countries use 50hz and others 60hz. Why dont they all use 20hz or 30hz etc.
Nyiko <nyiko200atananzi.co.za>
RSA - Wednesday, October 13, 2004 at 07:10:28 (PDT)

my question is reguarding capacitors, how do I tell the polarity of polyester capacitors there is no indication of POS or NEG are the polyester type non polar ?
Timothy <tapersonettateschelon.com >
Denver , co USA - Tuesday, October 12, 2004 at 08:05:22 (PDT)

i need to know why you get shocked when you touch stuff? IT feels funny. gianna thank you
gianna <soccerchampgi>
palm bay, fl USA - Sunday, October 10, 2004 at 13:26:10 (PDT)

I really like this web page it has helped me a lot in science class.I just wanted to send my thanks, so thanks a lot!!!!!
Bradley Gilmore <low-rider7atLycos.com>
Salem, MO USA - Tuesday, October 05, 2004 at 10:55:19 (PDT)

Why is the neutral and earth connected together at the transmision end. What will happen if the neutral point gets open in your house wiring or at the transmission end. What will happen if the neutral gets opened and shorts with the earthing.
KUSHRU <kushruatvsnl.com>
MUMBAI, INDIA - Monday, October 04, 2004 at 19:35:53 (PDT)

how do we create matter?
ana <littlesweetthing11athotmail>
USA - Monday, October 04, 2004 at 15:26:47 (PDT)

how do you create electricity, but not is scientifc terms?
Ana <ana_veloso_11atmsn.com>
long branch, nj USA - Monday, October 04, 2004 at 15:06:55 (PDT)

First of all i would like to say thank you for given me this apportunity i am goinig to sumit my qustion about electric resistace and i hope you answer and send me by my email address. my quastion is : find the equvalent resistance of the resistors found in a cube in all its sides with equall resistance of 2ohm. i refer the qustion from the book of PHYSICS FOR SCIENTIST AND ENGINEERING by Raymond A. Serway
tadesse <tadeze2000atyahoo.com>
Asmara, Maekel Eritrea - Friday, October 01, 2004 at 09:01:53 (PDT)

How far does water conduct electricity? We have recently suffered a lot of flash flooding. I have students who are concerned about the mix of electricity and water.
Kay McClelland <kayzthsathotmail.com>
Tucumcari, NM USA - Friday, October 01, 2004 at 07:42:32 (PDT)

My father was an electrician who has passed away. He always claimed it took more power to turn a light bulb on and off numerous times than it did to leave it on. My daughters neighbor faithfully turns off every light on and off while my daughter leaves hers on during the evening. Yet his electric bill is always considerably higher than hers. We were discussing this at a family picknick and my brotherinlaw vehemntly said this was impossible yet I have heard other electricians claim this also. Could you please explain which side is true
[The truth: It doesn't happen. You can test this yourself. Turn off everything in your house (including hot water heater, and unplug VCRs) then check the disk on your KWH meter to verify that it's stopped. Now have someone inside the house turn on a 100 watt incandescent light bulb for about 1/4 second. How much did the disk rotate? The amount of rotation is a measurement of the electrical energy consumed during turn-on. OK, now have the person turn on the light bulb constantly. Wait until the disk marker comes around, then observe how much the disk moves in one second. Did it move MUCH MUCH less than before? No? Then you've debunked the Urban Legend. The energy pulse at turn-on is small compared to leaving the lights on for just a few seconds. -billb] Rick Shanks <Engine3-1Catskillat yahoo.com>
Catskill, NY USA - Thursday, September 30, 2004 at 08:11:42 (PDT)

i wanted to know how electricity moves through a solid
shumena <shumz4everathotmail.com>
London, uk england - Wednesday, September 29, 2004 at 06:15:30 (PDT)

I've never been able to find a good reason : Why is Europe using 50 hz and the usa 60 Hz ? Roald Smits
roald Smits <ijsje76athotmail.com>
netherlands - Wednesday, September 29, 2004 at 01:05:13 (PDT)

What happens to a 220 volt light bulb operated at 110 volts? I've heard that it has about the same illumination and that it also has a significanly longer life span. Is this true? Can you provide me with a referance to verify that? Thanks
Arden Bercovitz <speakeratEinsteinAlive.com>
Vista, ca USA - Monday, September 27, 2004 at 15:27:36 (PDT)

I want to convert 110vac to 8vdc using a bridge rectifer and step down transformers. the problem is size how can I create a device the size of a small matchbox. It must produce 200ma. Or can I buy such a creature the trick is size it must be small and take up as little as space as possible. Thank you
Charles Grossman <ccdg33776atknology.net>
Seminole , FL USA - Monday, September 27, 2004 at 13:28:19 (PDT)

how does energy get from the power station 2 my house
maria
bristol, uk - Friday, September 17, 2004 at 10:42:22 (PDT)

Hi! I'm Andrew from Moscow. I'am studing in Moscow Power Engineering Univer. and I need need any information about distributional electrical nets on 15 or 20kV in other countries (projects, general inf., calculations and s.o.) If you know something about it please E-mail me. Thank you in advance.
Andrew <andrew_gusevatyahoo.com>
Moscow, Russia - Thursday, September 16, 2004 at 06:01:23 (PDT)

What is the maximum capacity for a power outlet? How do you work it out? Is it the watt, volts, or amps? My room has only one power outlet and everything is plugged into it. I’m concerned that I’m overloading it however I’ve not had any problems yet. I have about 10 electrical appliances connected to 1 power outlet including a TV, DVD, and computer. Is this dangerous? I remember that in high school one of the physics teacher had 5 computers connected to 1 power outlet. He was formally an electrical engineer and assured all of us that it was safe and well within the limits of power consumption. Please help me to understand.
Nav Khouth <navkhouthatyahoo.com>
keysborough, vic AUSTRALIA - Monday, September 13, 2004 at 08:41:38 (PDT)

What its fase "C" or hight leg.What tepy of conection have the transformer....
Manuel <suadondiatmsn.com>
Orlando, fl USA - Sunday, September 12, 2004 at 17:27:53 (PDT)

Secondary lines of my welding machine have long wires,so I put my excess wire into loop position. The secondary wires of my welding machine caught fire. Questions: 1. Was it caused due to induction from wire? 2. Does induction deteriorate the wire insulation? I'm expecting your answers. Thanks a lot! Paul Cook Philippines
Paul Cook <paulcook766atyahoo.com>
Cagayan de Oro, Mindanao Philippines - Sunday, September 12, 2004 at 06:40:38 (PDT)

Hello, I've wore Google search out. Search some some clues to my question.. What I figured someone else had alredy brug up & their was 1 or 2 science sites with answers.. NO SUCH LUCK !! Please, if you have no answers, Atleast try to give a a reference to somebody who might.. My question is just aqs it states. My Question: I have a human static problem. I figured this out when I keeped stopping watches nomadder the brand name.. I guess I sucked the life from the battery.. With this problem I never thought that being a comuter person would effect me. I may be wrong, it may be a new problem concrening a skin disorder.. I only have the plasces come up really bad if I stay on my computer for a long period of time. My face gets places like freshly mashed actnee bumps, kinda raw & red. My back gets places like that & also Black one like a inlarged black head that you can't pop. Grounding my self by Walking out with no shoes cause the spots to almost feel as if the pop themselves.. I know you think I am Crazy but I feel if it was just a skin disorder why does it only flare up with an extensive use of online browsing, etc. PLEASE HELP!! Does human static get a power boost from the comuters PC static????? Answers or a referal, either way I'm watch for some kind of e-mail. THANK YOU!
Christy Richardson <clr68stangathotmail.com>
Gaffney, sc USA - Tuesday, September 07, 2004 at 03:38:34 (PDT)

I've struggled with this thought for a long time. A Van der Graff generator is said to generate up to 100,000v. But there is also mention that it is only capable of a few microamps of charge flow (I don't understand what limits the charge flow). My question is: If there is that much voltage on the terminals, how come humans won't get electrocuted by the current generated by this voltage. The second question that goes with this is: what is the difference between a voltage generated by rubbing a fur or a VDG and a voltage from a DC power supply? My thought is, if a 1000 v from a DC power supply can kill a person by pushing lots of charges through a person's body what stops a 1000v from a Van der Graff generator to do the same. Thankyou for your help. I enjoy your detailed explanations.
ASaba Owerri <sabata36atyahoo.com>
aba, lagos USA - Wednesday, September 01, 2004 at 03:11:28 (PDT)

Wow! Your website is huge. I'ts great to see someone as passionate as i aspire to be about the natural sciences. When reading certain areas of your site though, i got lost in your analogies. I do feel that analogies are great ways of explaining physical phenomena due to the apparent connectedness of the natural sciences, however some used in your site didn't make things clearer. But all in all, i beleive there should be more people like you enjoying the free and rewarding study of electricity.
Joel Smithard <bergsonismatyahoo.co>
Sydney, nsw Australia - Monday, August 30, 2004 at 22:19:07 (PDT)

does the energy of electron finish when it lights the bulb for the first time?if not where does it gain energy to light the bulb for other times?
zahra <zhr_ahatyahoo.com>
tehran, iran - Monday, August 30, 2004 at 02:41:26 (PDT)

I am studying to be a teacher and have found this site to so much help with explaining all things electrical in a simple language and it will be really good to get the students to use it as well. Keep up the good work if you ever publish a book with all of this information in it I am sure that it will sell very well and I would differently buy one, or a lot for the school. Matthew
Matthew <mjbeiersattpg.com.au>
Brisbane, QLD Australia - Saturday, August 28, 2004 at 23:08:31 (PDT)

Oh pants n socks, just realised i spelt alphabetically wrong b4.tut tut!
suzie <skoobysueatyahoo.co.uk>
nottingham, UK - Friday, August 27, 2004 at 17:25:26 (PDT)

interesting site, it would be easier if the comments/questions were categorised alphebetically though. My question is....If a stereo is played at full volume, does it use more electricity than when it's played at a low volume?Cheers ears!
suzie <skoobysueatyahoo.co.uk>
nottingham, uk - Friday, August 27, 2004 at 17:23:27 (PDT)

Great site, very educational Question: Some people say that electrons move on the "skin" of a conductor, others say it moves through the entire diameter of the conductor; which one is it? Thanks a lot
Matt Henson <mattmohensonatyahoo.com>
Chesapeake, VA USA - Saturday, August 21, 2004 at 15:41:17 (PDT)

Wow, great site, but it's pretty unbelievable how rude some people are, demanding answers to questions because they don't want to do their own homework.
Ben Pobjie <mrbehemothathotmail.com>
Cranbourne, Australia - Thursday, August 05, 2004 at 22:51:44 (PDT)

Since the other name for electric generator is dynamo, pls explain more about dynamo. How ca we make a simple dynamo?
princess cairo <nellsnirb_05atyahoo.com>
manila, philipines - Wednesday, July 28, 2004 at 19:53:10 (PDT)

hi i was enquiring about conductivity in copper wires, the other day and heard that a guy in brittan wired the inside of his roof with copper wire and was running his house of the electricity that it was producing from the magnetic feild! i was wondering if this was actually possible or not? i would be much obliged if you could help, i am currently studying to become an electronics technision, so i am really interested in this subject.
calvin fursey <calvin.furseyatdefence.gov.au>
western port, vic australia - Wednesday, July 14, 2004 at 19:46:04 (PDT)

how would you make a delay of electical current between two wires,so when you add power it takes a second or less to relay to the other wire?
brandon
northbranch, n.j. USA - Wednesday, July 14, 2004 at 16:48:35 (PDT)

I been doing electrical work on my apartments and doing great, but all of a sudden ive come across a fixture that is giving me problems.When the hydro guy came and turned on the meter one of the fuses blew, i checked where the fuse goes and seen that both fixtures are off! After i changed the fuse it seemed ok cuz when i went up to the apartment the lights were on, but when i turned the light switch off it blew!! now why would that happen if it was the other way around then i would think there is a short some where but to have it blow when i turned it off its blowing my mind!!! can someone please help!!!
Libford Jones <libfordjonesatyahoo.ca>
hamilton, on canada - Tuesday, June 01, 2004 at 13:53:49 (PDT)

What is current electricity?
Louise <Lozzapop_69athotmail.com>
Sydney, New South Wales Australia - Monday, May 31, 2004 at 03:26:58 (PDT)

Sir, I understand what is meant by charge AND what is meant by an electron. BUT, WHAT IS MEANT BY CHARGE ON AN ELECTRON? pls. let me know about this. thank you. yours faithfully, Subbu.
Subramanian <subbu_967atyahoo.co.in>
CHENNAI, TN India - Thursday, May 27, 2004 at 09:31:36 (PDT)

I hate you'r guts so bad i wanna kill you
james jones <03bers1964atymll.biblio.net>
wrexham, navada Wales - Thursday, May 27, 2004 at 04:22:32 (PDT)

Why is a 6-volt battery bigger than a 9-volt battery?
Linda Lee
USA - Thursday, May 20, 2004 at 18:41:51 (PDT)

my question is,we have 50-60 fans mounted at work for employees,they are wired for 277v,if they are turned on while spinning in reverse,why do they start and run in reverse?if you stop them and spin the blade opposite direction,it takes off and runs i the correct direction,i thought motors had a specific direction of rotation,thanks
danny <dsmc6609ataol.com>
olive branch, ms USA - Thursday, May 20, 2004 at 02:02:57 (PDT)

how do I test curent on a multi tester. If machine down. what is the step to take to dionose the problem to get it working, pnumatic,contacts, relay,photo eyes and motor,prox that reflexor, etc.
David <djuthatjuno.com>
Aurora, co USA - Wednesday, May 19, 2004 at 00:43:53 (PDT)

OK, An electrica AA battery toothbursh has speed but not power since you can stop it easily with your fingers. (please correct my vocabulary about power and speed the way its really used in books so that I can make more research). What electrical component it needed to make it get power?
Henry <eleal1atyahoo.com>
L.A., CA USA - Tuesday, May 11, 2004 at 11:43:45 (PDT)

In our Jr. High Science book"Science Power 9 Atlantic Edition", there seems to be some confusion about the speed of electricity/electron flow. The text say that electrons flow rather slowly through a conductor(copper). How does reflect the speed of electricity at60 hertz in our school. What abour batteries. I would like to see the record set straight on electron flow in relation to speed and time.
[ They are confused about energy versus electrons, and seem to be using the word "electricity" to name both of them. Yet electrons move slowly, while electrical energy moves fast. And in 60Hz cables, the electrons don't flow forwards at all, instead they sit in one place and vibrate. How can "electricity" sit in one place, yet also race forwards on its way to an appliance? Simple: it cannot. There are two things flowing in the wires, and they flow in two different ways, yet most authors call both of them by the name "electricity." For some info about the speed of electrons, see Speed of "Electricity." I don't have much info about the speed of electrical energy. It typically moves at 1/3 to 1/2 of the speed of light, and its speed depends on the type and thickness of the plastic insulation on the wires. The speed of electrical energy is the same as the speed of electromagnetic waves on a transmission line. This is because electrical energy is made of electromagnetic waves, it's made of magnetic fields and electric fields. - billb]
Regards,
Brian MacDonald
Brian Stephen MacDonald <macdonbs1atstaff.ednet.ns.ca>
Sydney, N.S. Canada - Monday, May 10, 2004 at 11:52:31 (PDT)

What is the diffence between dc and ac lights?
Jay Diener <jaydieneratyahoo.com>
San Jose, CA USA - Tuesday, May 04, 2004 at 08:00:17 (PDT)

I have been having a debate with a colleague as to whether electricity after going through the said appliance goes back down the wire to be recharged, please can you tell me this is not true and direct me to some black and white proof so i can shut this person up!.
[ The speed of electrons is very slow, so if the electrons are reversing direction 60 times per second, they don't move much at all. How then does the electrical energy get from the distant generator to your appliances? It flows along the columns of electrons inside the wires, as if the electrons were air molecules and the electrical energy was sound waves. Perhaps you'd enjoy the bicycle wheel analogy -billb] Kind Regards.
John Fernie
John Fernie <john_fernie7athotmail.com>
Glasgow, UK - Tuesday, April 27, 2004 at 18:50:20 (PDT)

I am conducting research on early "Electric Light Companys" (circa 1911) that supplied electricity to small communities in the west of Ireland before the national network was established. I am having difficulty however finding information on how these small generator stations worked - I have encountered vague references to "oil and water" "oil or water". There is also the suggestion that some of the smaller supply plants were "battery powered" and that batteries were transported from smaller generator sites to recharging stations. Do you have any info.? or can you direct me to books on the subjects? Great site by the way - I normally research social and political history and was a little lost on the techie side of things - site was a big help. Thanks.
P. Pearse <louhisatyahoo.com>
Galway, Ireland - Monday, April 26, 2004 at 06:34:30 (PDT)

Can I use a 110/220v,50Hz rated Audio Video Receiver to a 110/220v,60Hz line source without anyside effects on my electronic equipment. THX A LOT.
Henry <henrycp120athotmail.com>
Dubai, UAE - Saturday, April 24, 2004 at 11:28:55 (PDT)

what type of metal does electricty conduct best thx
will
WA USA - Thursday, April 22, 2004 at 15:48:01 (PDT)

What is 3 phase electricity concept
dhilip kumar <dhilip_nkatrediffmail.com>
chennai, tn india - Thursday, April 22, 2004 at 07:52:16 (PDT)

Gday, im just wondering how does wind turbines produce electricity and is it the same as a AC motor?
MoJo <ruff_paloathotmail.com>
Melb, VIC Australia - Thursday, April 22, 2004 at 04:42:56 (PDT)

how do the magnets cunduct electricity?
Raymond Byran Scott <zayahotmanathotmail.com>
lompoc, CA USA - Wednesday, April 21, 2004 at 14:00:52 (PDT)

when was the first three pin plug madeand who was it made by ? thanks :)
emma <cally210athotmail.com>
hull, uk - Tuesday, April 20, 2004 at 11:52:12 (PDT)

Hello, I just don't understand capacitor even after reading it from this site. I'm told that the current through the capacitor equals to the capacitance times the rate of change of voltage across it, i.e. I = C*(dV/dt). Now if we connect the capacitor to a DC voltage source, then the voltage across the capacitor is constant and hence no current will flow through the capacitor. How can the capacitor get charged if current can't flow through it?
Thai Duong <aitrieuatyahoo.com>
Vannuys, CA USA - Sunday, April 18, 2004 at 21:08:25 (PDT)

Just a quick note: I am currently a student teacher with a background in Biology and I found your site very helpful and enlightening regarding basic electricity and the physics therein. I especially like the humour and the style of the subject material which I previously found somewhat dull and dry. The "common misconceptions" page was particularly good. Thanks alot, I will be visiting again soon,
Cheers,
Matt Farnholtz
Matt Farnholtz <matt_farnholtzatcanada.com>
Vancouver, BC Canada - Tuesday, April 13, 2004 at 22:23:08 (PDT)

I've been trying to find an explanation to something I saw on a Nova program on String Theory. They were comparing the strength of gravitational force to atomic force. They simulated a person falling from a building and explained that the reason the individual did not continue to fall through the sidewalk was because of the negative charges of atoms resisting each other between the sidewalk and the human body. I hope I've communicated this correctly- I'm interested in understanding this. If this is correct.... I thought that molecules are considered neutral charges?
Karen <kcampbellrossenatyahoo.com>
san jose, ca USA - Sunday, April 11, 2004 at 19:39:59 (PDT)

what steps need to be taken when installing a wall outlet that is run by a wall switch? for example to turn on/off a lamp.i have ripped off the tab on copper screw side of the outlet which was done the same on the old outlet, but the new outlet is not working, please help in wisconsin!
john <johnny_k_lowatyahoo.com>
monroe, wi USA - Saturday, April 10, 2004 at 09:44:30 (PDT)

I just think this site needs more colour or somthing to grab peoples attetion its so plane and nerdy
jessica <lpchick4evaathotmail.com>
melbourne, vic australia - Friday, April 09, 2004 at 23:42:46 (PDT)

Um this is great and thnx fo the info, exactly what i needed
sabrena <babylicious2003athotmail.com>
St.croix, Virgin Islands - Friday, April 09, 2004 at 11:04:30 (PDT)

About what is the cost monthly to burn a 60 watt bulb. I was told it minght be $5.00 per bulb, and which is best for a TV? My dad being an old electrician always told me it was best to just leave it on.
Susan <s_e_97atyahoo.com>
Palmer, tx USA - Thursday, April 08, 2004 at 08:44:08 (PDT)

Great site, a bit confusing to me and I'm a science teacher. Planning on teaching electricity next to 12-13 year olds. Can you tell me if current splits up when you have a parrallel circuit and if there is anything I need to know to teach this without giving the pupils any more misconceptions
Lisa Cook <lisa_cookatlycos.co.uk>
Hull, UK - Wednesday, April 07, 2004 at 09:53:35 (PDT)

I am five years old. I want to know how birds know which lines are safe to sit on?
Isabel Landrem <msimpatftworth.isd.tenet.edu>
Fort Worth, TX USA - Tuesday, April 06, 2004 at 13:05:24 (PDT)

i did not ask about what electricity was ,i asked how fast does it trvel so no it did not help me.
tamica marcano <swimstar_89athotmail.com>
oshawa, ont canada - Saturday, April 03, 2004 at 12:57:46 (PST)

Is it possible to be electrocuted while showering during an electrical storm?
Carol <cmena85atyahoo.com>
Phoenix, Az USA - Thursday, March 25, 2004 at 10:41:09 (PST)

How are Joules compared to volts. If you have 110 volts how many Joules do you have. [ Joules are a measure of quantities of electrical energy, while Volts are something like electrical pressure. Pressure and energy are two different things, like feet versus gallons. How many gallons in a foot? Nope, doesn't work. But Volts and Joules are related. ]
Ron <emudbugatCHARTER.NET>
Maryland Heights, Mo. USA - Thursday, March 25, 2004 at 07:54:26 (PST)

when a generator "pumps" electricity where do the electrons come from?
arles mauck <m2mauck4atswbell.net>
okc, ok USA - Wednesday, March 24, 2004 at 11:10:02 (PST)

my daughter is doing an experiment on static electricity. she rubs a cloth on a record and then drops little balls on the record. when she touches near the balls with a pencil point, the balls jump to a new spot because the charge was weakened by the pencil and they go to a spot with more charge(right?) How and why does the pencil point weaken the charge? thank you for all your help
traci <trace57atverizon.net>
peabody, ma USA - Sunday, March 21, 2004 at 10:43:16 (PST)

Can i convert a Direct Current into an Alternating Current? How?
Alexis Hernandez <shaider27atyahoo.com>
Phil - Thursday, March 11, 2004 at 22:18:00 (PST)

Can infrared waves or UV light travel through a barrier as in a wall?
Sajid <pocketpc4athotmail.com>
USA - Monday, March 08, 2004 at 12:19:43 (PST)

Why do European Countries use 220 power instead of he 110 power used in the USA ?
Cliff Oden <clifritaatpeak.org>
Foster, OR USA - Thursday, March 04, 2004 at 13:38:29 (PST)

THIS IS A REALY CONFUSING SITE I DON'T GET IT!!OGH WELL WE R IN SKOOL AT THE MOMENT! BOO HOO
HUBBA <WHY DO U WANA NO>
TORONTO, ONT CANADA - Tuesday, February 24, 2004 at 07:34:35 (PST)

How has electricty changed the way we live since 1729?
gmilton <dchick_4everatyahoo.ca>
Washington, dc USA - Friday, February 20, 2004 at 10:54:53 (PST)

What a great site. I'm 62 and I've never understood electricity, or much else about science, for that matter. As you say, science is hard. Law is easy. I want to learn something about science before I shuffle off this mortal coil. Thanks so much for making so much great information available.
Richard Cummings <Richard.T.CummingsatIRSCOUNSEL.TREAS.GOV>
Houston, TX USA - Wednesday, February 18, 2004 at 10:37:53 (PST)

In 'THE ELECTRIC ENERGY IN A CIRCUIT FLOWS IN A CIRCLE?' you talk about wave energy. Should you not say that energy is tranferred as a wave?
Borris Metlovic
Moscow, Russia - Monday, February 16, 2004 at 03:25:16 (PST)

How does currents, magnetism, circuits, and conductivity work together to make electricity flow?
Jonathan P <mastahofpoopetsatmindless.com>
Denver, CO USA - Wednesday, February 11, 2004 at 16:55:37 (PST)

I would like to know what are the major safety factors with circuits, plugs. and overall just electricity! THANK YOU:)
Eric Bartolotta <jeap4atmsn.com>
Monee, Il. USA - Friday, February 06, 2004 at 17:55:46 (PST)

Can you explain KVAR or Reactive Power
[The short answer: light bulbs, motors, and electric heaters all consume electrical energy. But ideal coils and capacitors do not! It's very weird. With a coil or capacitor, the electrical energy flows in, but then all the energy flows back out to the generator again. None is used up by the capacitor (or coil), instead the energy just sloshes back and forth. That means the average energy-flow is zero. But a resistor is different. With a resistor (for example, a light bulb,) the electrical energy doesn't slosh. Instead it flows in just one direction: from the generator (or battery) and into the bulb. With a light bulb or other resistor, we can easily calculate the one-way energy flow by multiplying volts times amperes. But with coils or capacitors, the energy calculation becomes complicated.
Even though capacitors and coils ideally consume no energy, so the utility companies won't charge you to run them, there is still a large current in the wires. We can't give the name "wattage" to this strange back-and-forth energy flow, since it averages out to zero. Instead we call it "voltamps (VA) or "kilo-volt-amps-reactive (KVAR)" or "Reactive power."

KVAR is the rate of energy flow which sloshes uselessly back and forth between a generator and an inductive(coil) or capacitive load. Utility companies don't like this at all, since it doesn't show up on your kilowatt meter, and they aren't selling you any net energy... yet it heats up the power lines (and wastes fuel that runs the generators.) When energy starts sloshing like this *YOU* don't have to pay for it, but the utility companies do. And so they take action. Whenever you need to operate a very large but purely inductive (coil-type) load, the utility company will come and connect a big capacitor next to it in parallel. That way the energy can slosh back and forth only between your inductor and the big capacitor. The "sloshing effect" is kept out of the main power grid, so they won't have to pay for the wasted energy that otherwise would be heating up a hundred miles of power lines. -billb]
Craig Christie <Craig.christieatscottishwater.co.uk>
Aberdeen, UK - Friday, February 06, 2004 at 01:05:05 (PST)

UUUUmmm i ws just wondering....who invented electricity?
amanda <danleaathotmail.com>
kamloops, canada - Tuesday, February 03, 2004 at 16:52:21 (PST)

I have just been hired as a new physical science teacher, half way through the year. My first unit is electricity and Mr. Beatty's misconception articles have been very useful in clarifying and reclarifying my own knowledge. Great stuff.
Alex Miller <schoolatvmail.cybergood.net>
Lowell, MA USA - Sunday, February 01, 2004 at 11:16:10 (PST)

Hi, The information here is very helpful. Hope I can ask this question?
I have a battery pack of 7cells (AAA) that is rated at 800mah and the voltage is 8.4 volts. How does that translate to watts? Or it's not possible due to insufficient info? [ A battery pack can supply many different levels of watts. Wattage is not constant. It depends on what's connected to the battery pack. But... what is the MAXIMUM wattage your battery pack can safely deliver? A single AAA rechargable battery can put out about 200mA current. (It will get warm and go dead quickly though.) The voltage will be around 1.2 for a NiCd rechargable, so one AAA cell puts out about 1.2V x 0.2A or .24 watt at most. Seven of them put out seven times the max wattage of one, so your pattery pack maximum is roughly .24 x 7 = 1.7 watts. -billb]
Thanks Eric
Eric Hsing <ehsing88atyahoo.com>
Torrance, CA USA - Friday, January 30, 2004 at 09:07:12 (PST)

DOES IT COST MORE TO TURN A TV SET ON AND OFF REPEATEDLY THROUGH OUT THE DAY RATHER THAN LEAVING IT ON?
CHRISTINA SUTTON <CHITWNGIRLatYAHOO.COM>
Las Vegas, nv USA - Thursday, January 29, 2004 at 23:43:42 (PST)

What is the exact difference between 'potential difference' and 'voltage' ?
Anukool Deval <anukool_devalathotmail.com>
Mumbai, India - Wednesday, January 28, 2004 at 18:56:49 (PST)

I thought that energy could only be transformed, but never destroyed. Am I misinformed? [When one form of energy is transformed into a second form of energy, the first form of energy is destroyed. It's easy to destroy electrical energy. Just use it to power a heater. Analogy: it's easy to destroy light, just shine it on a black surface. Energy ITSELF is only transformed, but this always involves the birth of one form of energy and the death of another. -billb] "In a simple electric circuit, the electricity flows in a complete circle, while the energy moves differently. The energy flows one way, going from the source to the load. The energy does not follow the flow of electricity; electricity and energy are two different things. No electricity is gained or lost as the charges circulate within the wires, yet batteries create electrical energy from chemical energy, and light bulbs destroy the electrical energy as they convert it into light. Electrical energy takes a one-way path from battery to bulb. "
Lori Reed <lori.reedatasu.edu>
Glendale, AZ USA - Saturday, January 24, 2004 at 16:47:28 (PST)

Thanks I found what you wrote here enlightning. Cleared up alot of stuff for me.
Tetsuo <Tetoatfundymail.ca>
Virginia Beach, VA USA - Friday, January 23, 2004 at 01:19:56 (PST)

Thank you for your expalnation on the flow of electric charge and electrical energy. It's funny how easily peoples minds get illusioned by the general consensus and don't follow the cold hard fact for example the Bible teaches us good values do not kill, do not commit adultry, do not steal, etc, if we all livied by these rules the world would be a far more peaceful place, but for some reason people don't see the fact.
Brandon <bbradford77athotmail.com>
nz - Tuesday, January 20, 2004 at 16:39:08 (PST)

I love your site!!! I am 10 and in AC 5th grade at southside elemaentary. I had a science project on electricity and I used infromation from your site. Guess what??? I got an A!!!!!! Well just wanted to tell you your webiste is informative!!! thanks for your time! yours truly, Bailey Keaton
Bailey <flowerpowerbai>
Columbus, IN USA - Tuesday, January 20, 2004 at 10:05:25 (PST)

What does an electric current make?
Tracey <TRACEYe259atAOL.COM>
Hampstead, MD USA - Monday, January 19, 2004 at 20:31:10 (PST)

I want to make something out of a lightbulb but I have to remove the screw cap on it, does anyone know how to do that without damaging the parts?
Moonie <MoonwiIIowatmsn.com>
Orlando, FL USA - Thursday, January 15, 2004 at 19:42:13 (PST)

Dear Sir, This question may seem weird, but here goes. My bed gets so full of static electricity that it causes the hair on my body and head to stand up, and then I itch like crazy. What could I do to stop the static from building up or to discharge it. I don't get much sleep any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance. [Try humidifying the room. Try laundering the blankets, sheets, quilts, with anti-static fabric softener. ALso see Sparks, doorknobs, electric people for more suggestions. -billb]
Hollis A. Atwood <hud88athotmail.com>
Rock Springs, Wyo USA - Sunday, January 11, 2004 at 19:24:58 (PST)

Excellent site, I am a hs phys teacher and after reading all the material I have question myself much more about my knowledge and put together so many electric/magnetic concepts that i have isolated, and never link in my physics clases (the ones i took in college and the ones I am teaching) It is great that you keep all this information online, thanks you are really doing a great job, let me know if I can help, maybe start a traslation to spanish? Best wishes
Adrian V C <valdezatwaired.com>
Mexico - Friday, January 02, 2004 at 03:00:50 (PST)

http://amasci.com/~billb/elect/guest04.html
Created and maintained by Bill Beaty.
Mail me at:

(Original scripts and Guestbook software created by Matt's script archive and can be found at Matt's Script Archive)