THE Electricity is the branch of physics responsible for the study of any phenomena that occur because of electrical charges at rest or in motion. The name electricity comes from the Greek word electron, used by the Greeks in reference to a fossilized resin from some trees: amber.
Fossilized resin known as amber
The ancient Greeks realized that, by rubbing amber on the skin of animals, this material acquired the property of attracting small bodies, such as feathers, fabrics, etc. From then on, phenomena of electrical origin began to be studied.
Nowadays we are totally dependent on electrical phenomena and equipment. Lamps, irons, showers, refrigerators, computers and electric motors are a few examples of the daily use of electricity.
Development of the study on Electricity
It was only in the 16th century that studies on electricity gained strength, mainly with the contributions of the Englishman William Gilbert. At first, it was thought that electrical phenomena had no correspondence with phenomena
magnetic, but in 1820, the Dane Hans Christian Oersted observed that the electric current generated a magnetic field and, thus, the Era of the Electromagnetism.Do not stop now... There's more after the advertising ;)
Electricity Subdivisions
Electricity can be subdivided: in electrostatics(study of electrical charges in rest, electrification processes, electrostatic force etc.) and Electrodynamics (study of phenomena involving moving electrical charges and electromagnetism).
Main topics studied in Electricity
Electrification processes: Electrifying means generating an imbalance in the number of protons and electrons in a body. There are three electrification processes: Friction, contact and induction;
Coulomb's Law: determines the electrical interaction force existing between two particles;
Resistors: Equipment that regulates electrical current in circuits and performs the joule effect (transformation of electricity into heat);
Generatorsandreceivers: Study of equipment that receives and generates electrical energy.
By Joab Silas
Graduated in Physics
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
JUNIOR, Joab Silas da Silva. "What is electricity?"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/o-que-e/fisica/o-que-e-eletricidade.htm. Accessed on June 27, 2021.
