Facts about electricity:

Electricity travels at the speed of light -- more than 186,000 miles per second!

Two positive charges repel each other, as do two negative charges. On the other hand, opposite charges attract each other.

Coal is the world’s biggest source of energy for producing electricity. Coal is burned in furnaces that boil water. The steam from the boiling water then spins turbines that are attached to generators.

Electric circuits can contain parts such as switches, transformers, resistors and transformers.

Lightning is a discharge of electricity in the atmosphere. Lightning bolts can travel at around 210,000 kph (130,000 mph), while reaching nearly 30,000 °C (54,000 °F) in temperature.

Electricity is a type of energy that can build up in one place or flow from one place to another. When electricity gathers in one place it is known as static electricity (the word static means something that does not move); electricity that moves from one place to another is called current electricity.

We use electricity every day for heat, light and power.

Before we began generating electricity, over 100 years ago, fireplaces and pot-belly stoves kept homes warm, kerosene lamps and candles lit homes and food was kept cool in iceboxes or underground storage cellars.

Benjamin Franklin was the first person to help people understand the principles of electricity and Thomas Edison changed the world with his invention of the electric light bulb.

The first power plant owned by Thomas Edison opened in New York City in 1882.

The electricity we use in our homes comes from a primary source like oil, nuclear power, coal, natural gas, the sun, or other natural sources.

If a person yelled for 8 years, 7 months, and 6 days, he or she would produce enough energy to heat one cup of coffee.

If you travel as fast as electricity, (about 300,000 kilometres = 186,411.358 miles per second the speed of light), you could go around the world 8 times in the time it takes to turn on a light switch.

If you had a light bulb on the moon connected to a switch in your bedroom, it would take only 1.26 seconds for that bulb to light up, 238,857 miles away.

Electricity always tries to find the easiest path to the ground.