Question

How do we produce electricity?

Answer 1

It's hard to imagine our homes without electricity. There would be no TV, computer or video games. You'd have to do your homework by candlelight or oil lamps. You wouldn't be able to listen to your favourite bands on the radio or CD player – instead, you'd have to make your own music!

But what is electricity?
Electricity is a form of energy that starts with atoms. You can't see atoms because they're too small, but they make up everything around us. There are three parts to an atom: protons, neutrons and electrons. Electricity is created when electrons move from atom to atom. There are a number of ways to make electrons move, but most electricity is produced at power plants.

How do power plants work?
It all starts with a source of power. We use water to create most of our electricity. That's why most of our plants are called hydroelectric facilities: hydro means water.
Power plants that use water to make electricity are built near rivers. Dams are built across rivers to hold back the water. Water is then directed through big pipes and it falls against the blades of giant turbines. The turbines have blades on them that turn when the water hits them, just like the blades of a pinwheel turn when you blow on them. After this, water goes to the river.
The turbine blades are attached to a big metal rod, and at the end of that rod are large magnets. When the blades turn, they make the rod and the magnets spin very fast. The magnet is surrounded by heavy coils of copper wire, and the spinning magnets cause electrons in the wire to begin to move, creating electricity.