Electricity definitions and example sentences on Wordnik

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noun The physical phenomena arising from the behavior of electrons and protons that is caused by the attraction of particles with opposite charges and the repulsion of particles with the same charge.
noun The physical science of such phenomena.
noun Electric current used or regarded as a source of power.

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In physics, a name denoting the cause of an important class of phenomena of attraction and repulsion, chemical decomposition, etc., or, collectively, these phenomena themselves. The true nature of electricity is as yet not at all understood; but it is probable that it is not, as was formerly assumed, of the nature of a fluid—either a single fluid, as was supposed by Franklin, or two fluids (positive and negative), as was supposed by Symmer. The word was first used by Gilbert, the creator of the science of electricity, and by him was applied to the phenomena of attraction and repulsion as exhibited when amber (electrum) and some other substances of a similar character were briskly rubbed. Its meaning has been gradually extended to include a large variety of phenomena, among which may be named heating, luminous and magnetic effects, chemical decomposition, etc., together with numerous apparent attractions and repulsions of matter widely differing from those originally noted, but all of which are attributed to a common cause. The subject is usually divided into the two parts of statical or frictional electricity, including the electricity produced by friction and analogous means, the phenomena of which are chiefly statical, and current electricity (also called voltaic electricity), including that produced by the chemical or voltaic battery and electromagnetic machines, the phenomena of which are mostly dynamical. The form of electricity first discovered was the frictional. The discovery is generally attributed to Thales (sixth century b. c.), who observed that amber, after being rubbed by silk, had the property of attracting light bodies, like bits of paper, bran, etc. It was subsequently discovered that glass, sulphur, resin, and many other bodies gained by friction this same property to a greater or less extent. When electricity is produced by the friction of silk on glass, that of the glass is called vitreous or positive electricity, while that of the silk rubber is called resinous or negative electricity. When produced by the friction of flannel or silk on sealing-wax, that of the wax is negative, and that of the flannel or silk rubber is positive. This distinction, which however, is properly explained as due to a difference of electrical potential (see potential), extends through the whole subject, by whatever means the electricity is produced. It is found universally true that the two kinds of electricity are produced in equal amounts. Besides friction, there are other means of exciting electricity, as pressure between two bodies or sudden fracture (by which means sugar becomes faintly luminous when broken in the dark). If a piece of sealing-wax is broken, the opposite ends will be found to be dissimilarly electrified. This is especially true of the fracture of cleavable minerals, like mica, calcite, etc. Some crystallized bodies become electrified by change of temperature: for example, a crystal of tourmalin, on being slightly warmed, becomes positively electrified at one extremity, and negatively at the other; if cooled, the poles are reversed. (See pyro-electricity.) For the chief means of obtaining a supply of frictional electricity, see electric machine, under electric, and electrophorus. The principal subjects considered under the head of statical electricity are the distribution of electricity over the surface of a conductor, as determined by its shape or the proximity of other electrified bodies (see density); the effect of induction or the production of an electrified state in a neutral body by approaching it to one already electrified, but without contact; the degree of induction, as determined by the nature of the non-conductor or dielectric (see induction, conductor, dielectric); the accumulation of electricity in a condenser, as a Leyden jar (see condenser, and Leyden jar, under jar); the measurement of capacity, potential, quantity, etc. (as with an electrometer); and the phenomena of discharge, as the spark-discharge, which takes place between oppositely electrified bodies when they are brought near together, the brush-discharge, etc. The electricity generated by friction and analogous means is in a state of high potential (see potential), but the quantity, and therefore the amount of electrical energy, is generally small; it has the power of overcoming great resistances and producing violent mechanical effects, as seen in the discharge of a Holtz machine, and still more strikingly in the case of lightning. Frictional electricity has found but few useful applications in the arts. The common means of producing current electricity is the voltaic battery. (See battery and cell.) Electrical currents may also be obtained by revolving a coil of wire in the space (magnetic field) between the poles of a steel magnet or electromagnet, so as to cut the lines of force between these poles. This principle is made use of in magneto-electric and dynamo-electric machines (see electric) to obtain powerful currents of electricity for practical use. A current may also be produced by soldering together two ends of two bars of different metals, connecting the other ends with a copper wire, and then heating (or cooling) the first point of union. This is called thermo-electricity, and the pair of metals is called a thermo-electrical couple; it is analogous to the voltaic couple, only here the electrical current is obtained at the expense of the heat supplied. (See thermo-electricity.) The principal subjects considered under the head of current electricity are the effects of the current in causing chemical decomposition (see electrolysis, electrometallurgy), in producing heat and light through the resistance of the medium, including the voltaic arc, and in the production of induced currents in a coil of wire, under certain conditions, by the action of another current or a magnet (see induction); the measurement of strength of current (as with a galvanometer or ampere-meter, which see), of electromotive force (as with a volt-meter), and of resistance (as with the electric bridge or ohm-meter), etc. The current electricity produced by the chemical battery or ordinary dynamo-machine differs from the statical electricity of the frictional or induction machine, in that the difference of potentials of the poles, or, in other words, the electromotive force of the current when the poles are connected, is relatively small, while the quantity of electricity is relatively enormously large. Correspondingly, ordinary current electricity has relatively very little power of overcoming a high resistance; no spark is obtained, even from a powerful battery, when the poles are separated by so much as a small fraction of an inch; but the current can do a large amount of work in producing chemical decomposition (as in the electrolysis of water), or mechanically, when transformed by an electric motor. Induced currents, however, as those produced by an induction-coil (which see), may have a very high electromotive force and consequent power of overcoming resistance.
Animal electricity. See animal.
Contact theory of electricity a theory which assumes that the electromotive force of a voltaic cell, and perhaps the electricity produced by friction, is due to the difference of potential assumed by two dissimilar substances when placed in contact.

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In 1600, William Gilbert coined the name for the science of electricity from the Greek name for amber: elektron . — Fantasy and Science Fiction - [Vol 111] - Issue 04-05 - October-November 2006
I need one thing: the secret of producing a certain type of electricity--something that I'll call animal electricity, which is probably a by-product of processing tremendous voltages. — 074 - The World's Fair Goblin
After giving up electrons at the anode, hydrogen migrates through an electrolyte to combine with oxygen at the cathode, creating water as a byproduct and feeding a flow of electrons--electricity, that is--between the terminals. — Omni: February 1994
Everytime my husband and I would secretly meet the electricity was amazing. — Entertainment Weekly's PopWatch
Along with these, the electricity is also very important and useful utility of human life. — Best Syndication -

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