ATech Educator News
Copyright ATech Training, Inc.
November 2016
Electricity Made Simple
Part 2 of 3
Submitted by: Monroe Sorton
tron positions in the valence rings from where they were
moved. These vacancy positions are sometimes called
holes. The more electrons are displaced and accumulated, the more potential, or voltage, will exist. Atoms
deprived of free electrons are called ions due to the
imbalanced state caused by missing free electrons from
the valence rings. In order to re-establish equilibrium or
balance within the ion, free electrons must return to fill
the vacancies or holes in the valence rings of the ions.
The strong natural tendency for electrons to return to the
holes in the valence rings of ions constitute an electrical state of charge called voltage or electrical potential.
Voltage is expressed in units of volts (V) attributed to
Alessandro Volta (1745-1827; Italian scientist and physicist). Since all the electrons travel in one direction to
return to the ions on one of the two plate(s) in a battery,
it is called a direct current source or DC battery source.
The current only flows in one direction.
Electrical current is expressed in units of amperes (A).
One ampere is said to be present when approximately
6.24 quintillion electrons (6,240,000,000,000,000,000)
cross a specific point within the electrical pathway in
one second. A quantity of 6.24 x 1018 electrons is said to
be equivalent to one coulomb of charge. Research suggests that The International System of Units named this
quantity of charge after Charles Augustin de Coulomb
(1736-1806; French physicist). Although electrons are
not visible to the naked eye, the effects of electricity can
be realized by the presence of heat, light, electromagnetic force, effects of fire, sensation, and by measuring
instruments such as digital volt ohmmeters (DVOM)
and oscilloscopes. Rearranging electrons disproportionately within a structured device called a battery creates a
potential voltage force in the same manner that stretching a rubber band creates a potential elastic force. The
longer the length of the rubber band is stretched, the
more potential elastic force (energy) will be released
as the rubber band snaps back to its original resting
position and form. Likewise, the more electrons that
are disproportionately accumulated on one of the two
conductive plate(s) within a battery, the more electrons
will be available and naturally return to the vacant elec-
When a stretched
rubber band is
released, its elasticity contracts as
it snaps back to
its original position. The force of
the contraction
is proportionate to the length
and force of the
stretch. If the
same rubber
band is stretched and released beneath water, the rubber band will experience a slower contraction rate as it
snaps back to its original resting position. Contraction
rate is now compromised due to the opposing force
offered by the presence and substance of water. The
water will offer opposition to the rubber band’s contracElectricity Made Simple, Part 2 of 3
Continued on Page 2...
1
conductor. Insulators are constructed of atoms with five
or more electrons in the valence rings. The resistance
offered to the flow of electrons in insulated material is
extremely high. However, extremely high voltages can
still overcome high resistance and force electrons to
move away from the valence rings of atoms, causing the
temperature of the pathway to increase rapidly and resulting in electrical pathway destruction. Lightning is a
perfect example of high voltages overcoming the electrical resistance of the air.
By explaining the basic concepts of electricity and
providing real-life examples involving the dynamics of
electricity, students begin to connect the dots and understand what electricity is really all about; what allows a
battery to be fully charged and what causes a battery to
be discharged. The distinction between charged batteries versus dead batteries is comparable to a stretched
rubber band versus a rubber band that is not stretched.
Stretching the rubber band awakens the potential elastic
force in the rubber band material while displacing and
accumulating electrons disproportionately establishes a
potential voltage charge within a battery. There is no potential energy in a rubber band when it is not stretched.
There is no potential voltage between atoms in a state of
equilibrium. Natural laws, and the laws of physics and
chemistry, allow for science to use natural principles of
chemistry to cause electrons to accumulate disproportionately between two conductive plate(s). The difference between the number of electrons on the negative
plate(s) and the positive plate(s) generates an electrical
charge within the battery. Whenever any two different
conductive materials are placed into an acidic solution
or substance called electrolyte, a natural chemical reaction will occur. This
chemical reaction
causes electrons
to move and accumulate disproportionately on one of
the two conductive
plates more so than
the other. The plate
that accumulates excessive electrons is
considered to be the
negative plate(s) or
tion rate. If the same process is repeated with the rubber band submerged in a thicker gel-like substance, the
rubber band’s contraction rate will experience additional
opposing forces from the gel-like substance. The thicker
the gel-like substance, the more opposition or physical
resistance to the rubber band effect.
Materials constructed of atoms with free electrons in the
valence ring are called conductors. For example, copper,
silver, gold, iron, nickel, and aluminum are examples of
conductors. Conductors provide a pathway for electrons
to travel to their intended destination with minimum opposition. As electrons travel back to their original destination (ions), they will always encounter some degree of
electrical opposition called electrical resistance. Electrical resistance is expressed in units of ohms, attributed to
Georg Simon Ohm. With the exception of absolute zero,
electrons will always encounter some degree of resistance in all electrical conductors. Factors affecting electrical resistance are the size of the cross section areas of
the conductor, the length of the conductor, the temperature of the conductor, and the specific resistivity of the
Electricity Made
Simple, Part 2 of 3
Continued on Page
3...
2
terminal of the battery and the conductive plate(s) that
loses or is deprived of the equivalent number of electrons is considered to be the positive plate(s) or terminal
of the battery. The chemical reaction enables the electrons to leave the plate(s) of one terminal and accumulate on the plate(s) of the other terminal.
will flow or travel from the negative terminal to the
positive terminal via any electrical conductive pathway.
When electrons flow from the negative to the positive
terminal of the battery, this is called the electron flow.
The conventional flow is based on the assumption that
electrons flow from the positive terminal to the negative terminal of the battery. Should a higher voltage be
required, several lemon/potato batteries can be conStudents can see and experience the concept of a battery nected in series; positive screw terminals connected to
by inserting two different types of conductive material the negative screw terminals. This will cause the total
into an acidic solution; i.e. a brass screw and a galvavoltage to double or triple for each lemon/potato battery
nized screw can be used as plates/terminals inserted into connected in series.
an acidic solution (body of electrolyte) such as a lemon
or a potato. Students can use a DVOM to measure the
potential voltage of approximately 600 to 1,000 milliRecharging a dead automotive battery is accomplished
volts (mV) that will develop across the brass and galva- by using an external electrical source called a battery
nized screw terminals of the lemon/potato-based battery. charger. Recharging a battery is comparable to stretchThey can connect a light emitting diode (LED) to the
ing a rubber band again and again. When free electrons
correct polarity on the terminals of the lemon/potato
are pushed away from the valence rings of the original
battery and see the LED light as the electrons flow from atom on the positive plate(s) and collected disproporthe lemon/potato battery. Students are always fascinated tionately on the negative plate(s) of the battery, the batby live demonstrations. They get the opportunity to
tery is re-charged. Potential elastic force is established
witness and experience the most fundamental electrical in a rubber band, and potential voltage is established
charge emanating from a fruit or vegetable. The voltage between the terminals of a battery. Unfortunately, after
generated will primarily depend on the size and type of stretching a rubber band repeatedly, it will eventually
conductive screws or plates used and the specific gravity fail. Likewise, after recharging an automotive battery reof the acidic solution as compared to water. One of the peatedly, the battery will also fail. Students will be able
two screws will become the positive terminal and the
to connect these demonstrations and experiences to what
other will become the negative terminal. Students can
they have learned.
use a DVOM to verify which screw became the negative
or positive terminal of the lemon/potato battery. The test
leads of the DVOM can be switched between both screw Look for Part 3 of this article in December’s ATech
terminals until a negative sign appears on the screen of Educator News.
the DVOM. This will identify the polarity of the screw
Questions or Comments:
terminals of the lemon/potato battery. Students will learn
Monroe Sorton, Automotive Instructor
the significance of polarity. If a conductive pathway is
General Automotive and NISSAN
provided to allow all displaced and accumulated [email protected]
trons to return to their original destination, the battery
Work: 678-226-6261
will then be considered discharged or dead. Electrons
Cell: 770-882-3316
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Automotive Technology
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ATech Training, Inc.
12290 Chandler Drive • Walton, KY 41094
Toll Free: 1-888-738-9924
Phone: 859-485-7229 • Fax: 859-485-7299
E-mail: [email protected]
www.atechtraining.com
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Toll Free: 1-888-738-9924
Phone: 859-485-7229
E-mail: [email protected]
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