How Does Electricity Work?
Electricity for your house comes from a big power station where there is a huge piece of machinery
called a
Generator
Inside the generator is an electromagnet, which is an iron core with wires which
O I C
L
t. ouch i
tt t do no d it bu
aroun
In a circle around the magnet—also not touching it—there are other coils of wire.
Power,
usually from steam or falling water
H I rapidly inside the coil.
R L
W
makes the electro magnet
and this pro
duces
Electricity, electric curr
ent in the o
uter circle o f
wire.
The electric current flows from the generator
into cables that run sometimes
Underground
They carry the
current everywhere it is needed.
and sometimes
high up on poles.
A cable brings it into your house.
you bring the electric current into your room. When you flip a light switch or turn on your television set,
This book was designed and printed by Michelle Nahmad for the Spring 2013 Word and Image course at the Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts.