Energy related to forces on, and movement of, charged particles
Electrical energy is theenergy transferred as electric charges move between points with differentelectric potential, that is, as they move across apotential difference. As electric potential is lost or gained, work is done changing the energy of some system. The amount of work injoules is given by the product of the charge that has moved, incoulombs, and the potential difference that has been crossed, involts.[1]
Electrical energy is usually sold by thekilowatt hour (1 kW·h = 3.6 MJ) which is the product of the power in kilowatts multiplied by running time in hours. Electric utilities measure energy using anelectricity meter, which keeps a running total of the electrical energy delivered to a customer.
Electric heating is an example of converting electrical energy intothermal energy. The simplest and most common type of electric heater useselectrical resistance to convert the energy. There are other ways to use electrical energy. Electric charges moves as a current the heater element which has a potential difference between the ends: energy is transferred from the charges to the element, increasing the element's temperature and thermal energy as the charges lose potential energy.
Electricity generation is the process of generating electrical energy from otherforms of energy.
The fundamental principle of electricity generation was discovered during the 1820s and early 1830s by the British scientistMichael Faraday. His basic method is still used today: electric current is generated by the movement of a loop of wire, ordisc of copper between the poles of amagnet.[2]
For electrical utilities, it is the first step in the delivery of electricity to consumers. The other processes, electricitytransmission,distribution, and electrical energy storage and recovery usingpumped-storage methods are normally carried out by theelectric power industry.[3]
