Wireless power induction is already being used today in the form of electric toothbrushes. An electric toothbrush contains coils or loops in the toothbrush handle as well as in the base recharging unit. Because of their constant exposure to water, electric toothbrushes have to use inductive coupling as a means of recharging their batteries. Inductive Coupling Inductive coupling involves the use of magnetic fields to stimulate the movement of current through a wire. A current moving through a wire generates a magnetic field around it and vice versa. Thus, to Read More
How Do Nuclear Power Plants Work?
A nuclear power plant works in the same way that a coal power plant works. Heat is generated which causes water to turn into steam. This steam turns a turbine which causes a generator to spin which generates electricity. However, a nuclear power plant does not use coal. Instead, the fuel of choice is uranium 235. When used, this can create a lot more power than coal can. The first step is to pack a 12 foot long fuel rod with the uranium 235 pellets. They are lined in this Read More
Tidal Energy
Tidal energy is energy that can be obtained from the changing sea levels. In other words, tidal energy is a direct result of tide shifting from low to high. Tidal energy is considered a renewable source of energy since it only uses the energy from tide changes instead of burning or consuming any form of energy source. It is also considered inexhaustible because tides always rise and fall due to gravity. Tidal power utilization is also considered a very reliable source of energy due to its predictability. Compared to other Read More
How Does Nuclear Energy Work?
Nuclear energy is an incredibly effective way of generating electricity and providing power to tens of thousands of households in the region it powers. By creating a fission reaction and breaking apart an atom of uranium, the power plant is able to create incredible amounts of energy. While the explanation of nuclear energy is simple, the true might of nuclear energy requires such exact and detailed calculations. Otherwise, situations such as the Meltdown at Chernobyl can occur. What is Fission? Fission is a reaction that takes a compound such as Read More
What Fuels Are Used in Power Plants?
There are many different types of power plants. Depending on the type of fuel someone wants to use determines what kind of power plant someone would build. The most powerful power plant is a nuclear power plant, but this is also the most controversial because of events such as Chernobyl and because it is difficult to get rid of the nuclear waste. However, the ultimate purpose of most power plants is to spin the turbine which, in turn, creates electricity. Gas Power Plant With a gas power plant, they take Read More
How Does a Coal Power Plant Work?
One of the oldest ways in which humans have created electricity is via coal energy conversion. The fundamental reason for this is that coal is an easy resource to find and the process for converting coal to electricity is a straight forward one. However, environmentalists have discouraged coal energy conversion in recent years because of its contribution to green house gases and the possibility that it could contribute to global warming. However, a coal power plant can create considerable energy, which is why there are still advocates for coal power Read More
How a Fuel Cell Works
A fuel cell is a device that produces electrical energy through chemical reaction. This energy conversion process is known as electro-chemical energy conversion. The simplest form of electrochemical device that we use in our day to day life is a battery cell. A fuel cell is different from a battery cell in so far as reactants are constantly supplied to a fuel cell making it an open system whereas a battery cell is a closed system that stores the reactants within it. A fuel cell works as long as fuel Read More
How Do Oil Rigs Work?
As recent events concerning oil spills in multiple locations have flooded the news, many people are wondering how oil drilling works and why something like an oil spill can happen. This article will attempt to answer these questions by explaining how the various processes of oil drilling work. What is an Oil Rig An oil rig, or oil platform, is a large processing center that is able to extract oil from the Earth, refine it, and distribute it throughout the world. Oil rigs are often dangerous places to be as Read More
Fusion Power
Fusion power refers to energy produced during the fusion of two different atoms. The same process occurs in space; its' this process that gives the starts their brightness. It is also the sun's source of heat. The hydrogen bomb also works in the same way but in an uncontrolled manner. In a nuclear fusion process, energy could be released once two or more elements with light atomic numbers are induced to fuse together. The elements that are usually used are deuterium, tritium and hydrogen. The whole process begins when two Read More
How Does Solar Energy Work?
Solar energy is created by taking sunlight (solar thermal energy) and converting it into electricity. This conversion takes place via a medium that absorbs the solar energy and then converts it into usable electricity that can power various objects that are electrically operated. While the solar panel is not the most effective method of generating electricity, it remains a favorite because of the unlimited amount of energy that the sun provides. How Does Solar Energy Work? A solar panel is necessary in order to create solar energy. The most widely Read More
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