- The electricity we use in school/home is called mains electricity and is made in a power station using fossil fuels such as gas, peat or coal which are known as non renewable sources of fuel.
- These methods can cause alot of pollution so other renewable sources are windpower, energy from the sun and geothermal energy i.e. made by taking heat from the ground and turning it into electrcity.
- The mains electricity flows from the power station to our house through cables that hang from large towers called pylons. The flow of electricity into our homes is called an electric current.
- We can also get electricity from batteries. Every battery has a positive (+) and a negative (-) terminal (end). To make electicity flow, the terminals need to be joined together in a circuit. Follow the link for a little game on circuits - www.learningcircuits.co.uk/flashmain.htm .
- Insulators are any materials that do not allow an electrical current through
- Conductors are materials that do allow electrical currents through
Below are some clips based on electricity, geothermal heating, wind power and pollution.
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1. How does a circuit work? and
2. Are materials conductors/insulators of electricity?