Everyone knows from experience what an electric current is, but not everyone understands the physical nature of this phenomenon, especially if physics was not interested in this during the school course. And for many schoolchildren, physics textbooks seem slurred. Let's try to correct these errors by describing this phenomenon simply.
Collective farm at work
The very word "current" indicates that we are talking about movement, and not about a static phenomenon. What is electric current? This is simply the directed movement of charged particles in a conductor or electrolyte. Classical conductors are objects made of metals. They are always considered dangerous, keep this in mind if you need to push the victim away from the current source. The nature of the electric current in metals is associated with a special property of the substance. The fact is that the electrons in metals are quite free and represent something like a collective economy. Therefore, substances of this category conduct current very easily, it is easy to achieve a directed movement of particles.
Events in solutions
Electric current is also goodis transmitted by solutions of charged particles - ions. At the same time, positively charged cation particles approach the cathode, the negative electrode, and anion particles, whose charge is negative, approach the anode. Thus, a solution with negative and positive ions, that is, with electrolytes, is a good current conductor.
Why variable?
Types of electric current - this is how the question is often formulated on the exam. And in response, as a rule, they want to hear: "constant or variable." What is the difference? Direct current moves in the same direction, alternating current changes its direction. Why was alternating current needed (namely, is it supplied in consumer services and in production?). The fact is that when using alternating current, there is much less loss when it is transmitted over the cable. Thus, the transmission of electricity becomes more economical.
Electricity and magnets
What is electric current in nature? It was seen by everyone who saw lightning - a current of monstrous tension and strength. A person uses many properties of the current, for example, the ability to provoke magnetic phenomena: in inductors, motors and generators. It is to the work of research scientists that we owe the comfort of modern life.
Northerners see more
What is the electric current for a resident of the Nordic countries? This is the cause of the northern lights, a very spectacular natural phenomenon. Another natural example of an electric current can be considered the so-called solar wind, which, strictly speaking,is the cause of the northern lights. This is a stream of particles from the corona of the Sun. He also creates magnetic storms. This flow is normal for the Sun, but some people constantly experience these phenomena on themselves.
Electric current can also cause thermal phenomena. The simple heating of working appliances is proof of this. And it's not just about appliances designed for heating, such as a boiler and a heater. Side effect - heating from electric current - is very common.
Electric current has served man faithfully for many decades. But you have to be very careful with it. We pay a tribute of hundreds of lives to electricity, every year many people die due to negligence. The current does not forgive mistakes!
