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Electric Energy

Where does electricity come from? People's way of life changed (and continues to change) a lot with the development of human electricity production at the end of the 19th century. Nowadays, we depend heavily on electrical devices. Electricity is produced in power plants. These can be of various types, such as hydroelectric, thermoelectric and nuclear. Hydroelectric plants In Brazil, most of the electricity is produced in hydroelectric plants. See how this happens in the diagram below. Impacts of electricity production In many countries, electricity is obtained through thermoelectric plants, which burn fossil fuels (natural gas, coal and oil) to generate energy. Thermoelectric plants use resources that are difficult to obtain in nature and that can pollute the environment, especially the atmosphere. Another type of power plant is nuclear plants. They can provide large amounts of electricity, but have the disadvantage of using uranium to generate energy. Uranium is a toxic chemical element that is very dangerous to health, and there have been occasions when serious accidents involving uranium have caused many deaths and the contamination of large areas. Hydroelectric power plants are a less polluting source than nuclear and thermoelectric plants. However, damming water, for example, destroys the environment of many living beings, forcing them to move to other locations. Human communities are also affected and displaced. Alternative energy sources It is possible to use other natural resources that are abundant in Brazil to produce electrical energy. The energy of the Sun, called solar energy, can be captured in solar panels and transformed into electricity. Wind energy is generated by the wind: towers with large blades, which are moved by the force of the wind, activate generators that produce electricity. Batteries store chemical products that generate energy. In this case, chemical energy is transformed into electrical energy. Over time, chemicals lose their ability to generate electrical energy, and the batteries then stop working. However, there are some batteries that can be recharged with electrical energy, such as cell phone batteries. The electrical energy produced in a power plant is transmitted by wires that reach cities and the countryside. The wires are supported by towers and posts and reach homes, schools, stores and hospitals, for example. Inside these buildings there are also wires that distribute electricity to various points, such as sockets and switches. There are materials through which electricity passes more easily. Copper and plastic are materials used in the manufacture of electrical wires. Among them, metals such as copper, iron and aluminum stand out. These materials are good conductors of electricity. In other materials, such as rubber, plastic, leather and ceramics, the passage of electricity is more difficult. For this reason, they are known as poor conductors of electricity. These characteristics of materials are taken into account when manufacturing wires and other products that come into contact with electrical energy. Electrical wires are usually made of copper, which is a good conductor of electricity. However, on the outside, the wires are coated with a type of plastic, which is a poor conductor of electricity. Electrical energy provides a series of benefits and conveniences. However, it can cause burns, fires, electric shocks and even death. Precautions with electrical energy Observe some precautions that we must take to prevent accidents with electrical energy. Do not put your fingers or insert objects into sockets. Do not touch loose or exposed electrical wires. Do not plug several devices into the same socket at the same time. Keep electrical devices away from sinks, showers or wet surfaces. Never try to retrieve kites or other objects tangled in electrical wires. Never enter power stations. These places contain devices that can cause very intense shocks. Saving electricity You have seen that the installation of a hydroelectric plant causes a series of problems, such as flooding areas of rich biodiversity and the displacement of local residents. In this context, saving electricity is a very important attitude for the environment and human beings. And there are many ways to save electricity. See some of them in the text and images below. Only leave lights on and appliances connected if you are in the room and if the appliance is actually being used. Do not put hot food in the refrigerator. This causes the appliance to use more energy to cool what is inside. The electric shower is one of the appliances that consumes the most energy. Turn it off when soaping yourself or applying products to your hair.