Generation
From Spinning Turbines to a Flow of Electricity
Learn how a spinning turbine drives a generator, changing mechanical energy into electrical energy through magnetic…
The reading room
Readings
Explore explanations of electricity from its generation and movement to storage, familiar technologies and the ideas that connect them.
Networks
Overhead Lines and Underground Cables: Two Routes for Power
Overhead lines and underground cables solve different network problems; understand their layouts, visible trade-offs…
Networks
Before the Grid: A Short History of Local Electricity Supply
Local electricity supply linked nearby generators to their customers. Learn how early systems worked and why…
Storage
A Battery Stores Energy; It Does Not Create It
A battery stores energy; it does not create it. Follow a simple home backup scenario to see where its stored energy…
Everyday Use
A Quiet Room-by-Room Energy Observation
A room-by-room energy observation helps you see what household devices do during an ordinary afternoon, without tools…
Our point of view
A current is easier to understand when you follow it.
We explain the stages and ideas behind electricity in plain language, so readers can build understanding one question at a time.