After
reading this section you will be able to do
the following:
Define
electricity and identify the origins of the term.
Discuss
how electricity can be observed in the world.
What
is Electricity?
Electricity is a naturally
occurring force that exists all around us. Humans have been aware of this force for many centuries. Ancient man believed that electricity
was some form of magic because they did not understand it. Greek
philosophers noticed that when a piece of amber was rubbed with
cloth, it would attract pieces of straw. They recorded the first
references to electrical effects, such as static electricity and
lightning, over 2,500 years ago.
It was not until 1600 that a man
named Dr. William Gilbert coined the term “electrica,”
a Latin word which describes the static charge that develops when certain materials are rubbed against amber. This is probably the source of the word
“electricity." Electricity and magnetism are
natural forces that are very closely related to one another. You
will learn a little about magnetism in this section, but there is a
whole section on magnetism if you want to learn more.
In order to really understand electricity,
we need to look closely at the very small components that compose
all matter.
Review
Electricity
occurs naturally and has been observed for thousands of years.
Electricity
and magnetism are very closely related.
