Electricity - A Quiz for Bright Sparks

Answer: Sun

Solar energy from the sun can be collected by photoelectric cells; these convert the sun's light into direct current (DC) electricity.

Answer: Tap water

Tap water is a very good conductor of electricity because it allows the completion of an electrical circuit. (Pure water will not conduct electricity)
*Because tap water is such a good conductor you must NEVER use a hair dryer, electric fire or mains powered device near a bath of water.

Answer: Television

Hi-fi systems can have several electric motors to drive the CD player, cassette deck, record turntable or mini-disc player.
Personal computers have motors to run the hard disc drive, CD and floppy disc drives, they also have an electric motor to drive the cooling fan. A hairdryer has an electric motor to drive the fan.
*Some large screen televisions may have cooling fans powered by an electric motor.

Answer: They produce heat

Electrical consumption produces heat at the same time as it produces light, movement (electric motors) or sound (hi-fi).
Heat is also produced in the grid system carrying electricity from the power station to your house because of the electrical resistance (measured in ohms) in the transmission cables.

Answer: Electric kettle

An electric kettle consumes around two-thousand watts of power (UK). It is very wasteful to boil more water than you need!
The amount of power consumed by an electric kettle in just one-minute will power a sixty-watt light bulb for more than half-an-hour.

Answer: Thunder and lightning

Lightning happens when clouds become negatively charged in relation to the earth. This potential difference can be one billion volts.
A lightning flash lasts about a quarter of a second and can reach temperatures of thirty-thousand degrees Celsius, fifty-four-thousand degrees Fahrenheit.
Thunder is caused by the rapid expansion and contraction of the air around the lightning - it travels faster than the speed of sound causing a sonic boom.
As light travels faster than sound you see the lightning before hearing the thunder.
You can calculate the approximate distance of the storm by checking the time difference between the lighting and the thunder - each five seconds equals around one mile.
In the midst of a storm you should shelter in a building, if that is not possible a car will give you protection.
It is NOT a good idea to shelter under a tree as they are often struck by lightning!

Answer: Amps

Fuses blow when too much current is drawn through them. This breaks the electrical circuit.
It is important to replace a blown fuse with one of the correct rating, as advised by the manufacturer of the appliance.
Using the wrong fuse rating could damage the appliance, or worse cause a fire!

Answer: Watts

The unit of power known as the watt is named after the Scottish engineer and inventor James Watt.
*The watt, an International System unit of power, is equal to one joule per second.

Answer: It is normally powered by DC electricity

Most flashlights (torches) are powered by a number of one-and-a-half volt dry cell batteries that supply DC (Direct Current) electricity.

Answer: Feel electricity

An electric shock is not only unpleasant it can also be very dangerous.
This is why you must NEVER open the cover of any mains powered electrical equipment - leave it to a qualified technician.