What are the Uses of Electricity?
The importance of electricity can be seen in our daily lives. We find the application of electricity in various spheres of our life, such as;
Working efficiently at our home.
Working at our office.
We use electricity for accessing data from modes like Fibre, LAN at our workplaces.
Electricity consumption in supplying water at our home, etc.
There are ample uses of electricity, uses of electrical energy, and the applications of electricity in different fields, and this page discusses the uses of electricity for Class 6 in detail.
Uses of Electricity
Electricity has changed our lives and has become vital in almost all aspects of our life today.
The list of uses will fill many books but here are a few applications of electricity in different fields:
Transport Systems - Trains, buses, trams, and cars all use electricity.
The use of electricity as motive power, meaning that electricity drives the wheels to make the vehicle move. Even gas and diesel-powered vehicles use electricity to start the engines (self in scooters give a spark to the engine), control the engine, and power the ancillary devices.
Home Heating and lighting devices, television, radio, computer, telephones all depend on electricity.
Wireless lights such as solar-powered lamps convert light to electricity.
For communication and providing power for computers, cell phones, fixed phones, etc.
We find the application of electrical energy as the medium for the transmission of signals.
We also find that high-speed optical fibres rely on an electrical signal at each end of the line. Without electricity, communication would reduce to letters, flag-waving, lighting fires, and shouting at each other.
So, why is electricity important?
None of the electricity-free methods is as flexible and flawless as any that we are used to today. For instance, industry manufacturing relies on electricity to drive virtually every moving part in a factory.
Materials like saws, cutters, conveyor belts, furnaces, chillers - whatever the process be, electricity are involved in all places.
Entertainment: The MP3 player, the portable battery-powered radio, memory stick are all accepted as core parts of our day-to-day lives; all depend on electricity to operate, whether connected to a mains or a power source like a battery, they all use electricity. The list is by no means exhaustive.
Uses of Electricity in Our Daily Life
We use electricity in all walks of life, some of the uses of electrical energy that are methods to counteract environmental pollution are discussed below:
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Residential Uses- Various household appliances and objects that use electricity range from basic items to advanced ones. These include small household items, like a coffee maker, dishwasher, and microwave to the big electrical appliances, like air conditioning units, refrigerators, electric heaters, washers, dryers, etc. In the nutshell, the whole lighting system of your house relies on electricity.
Transportation System: As per the latest information, the global transportation system depends entirely on the use of electrical energy, be it travelling from one place to another or even communicating around the world is only possible due to electricity. Electricity is massively used by the public through electric vehicles (electric scooters, e-rickshaw).
Electricity is used to charge vehicles’ batteries. Metros work as an alternative to counteract the railway systems reliant on fuel.
Industrial Uses: In today’s era, the industrial sector is a vast electricity consumer.
Without the use of electricity, it would have been a dream to run factories, industrial units, manufacturing processes, and other diverse ranges of activities.
It is observed that sudden power shutdowns cause severe financial losses to companies that rely on these factories and industrial units. Recently, a rapid rise has been seen in industrial electricity consumption, and it is expected to increase further over the coming years.
Thus, several industries are working to establish their power plants, so they don’t have to outsource electricity. This way, they are in a better position to cut their utility bills substantially; however, the percentage for industrial usage of electricity varies from country to country.
Commercial Usage: Many commercial buildings like workplaces, hospitals, education centres, restaurants, shopping malls, government properties, police stations, etc use electricity.
There are a few sub-sectors under the commercial sector that require a limitless supply of electricity, such as hospitals and medical facilities, etc.
How to Measure Electricity?
Electricity is calculated in terms of power which is expressed in the form of watts. The SI unit of power is expressed in watts which are named after the scientist James Watt who is the inventor of the steam engine.
What is Electric Power?
Electric power is the power produced by converting one form of energy to another. Electric power is actually based on the flow of electric charge, that is, current or the potential of charge to deliver energy, that is, voltage. Any combination of current and voltage values results in power.
Applications of Electricity - At A Glance
Electricity is a very powerful innovation of science. Electricity is widely used in all sectors like entertainment, engineering, healthcare, transport and communication, household, outdoors, office, commercial, space, and fuel. The ways in which electricity is used in these fields are:
Entertainment activities like watching television, listening to music from an MP3 player, and playing movies on DVDs, VCRs, and VCDs, all require the use of electricity.
The use of electricity is very essential in the healthcare sector like the use of electricity in an operation theatre and for running medical devices and machines.
Electricity is even required for the construction of buildings and structures like building houses, welding of materials, and installing windows and gates.
Travelling long distances is also possible because of electricity.
Electricity is used to light the roads, heat water in a pool, the lawnmower is used to cut grasses and also uses electricity and water sprinklers also use electricity.
A vast range of household appliances like toaster, refrigerator, washing machine, microwave, dishwasher, and electrical chimney uses electricity.
Electricity is used in factories for running heavy machinery.
Electricities are widely used in offices for running air conditioners, lights, coffee machines, lifts, biometric scanners, and ID card readers.
Electricity is even used as a fuel for electric cars.
Electricity is also used for running satellites and probes which are sent from the earth for space expeditions, for example, the Apollo mission for the landing of humans on the moon also used electricity.
Do You Know?
Total electricity consumption in the US increased three years between 1950 and 2007, with an average annual increase of around 5%. Between the years 2008 and 2018 growth in total U.S. electricity use was nearly flat, with total electricity consumption in 2018 only 2% greater than in 2008.
As per the latest information, worldwide, a major portion of environmental pollution is caused by the burning of fossil fuels. So vehicles that run on batteries are safer and eco-friendly for our environment. Therefore, the usage of electric vehicles is expected to rise in the coming years.
FAQs on Uses of Electricity
1. What are the major uses of electricity in our daily lives?
Electricity is essential for various daily activities, such as:
- Powering household appliances like refrigerators, washing machines, and microwaves
- Lighting homes, streets, and public spaces
- Operating computers, televisions, and mobile devices
- Supplying energy to transportation systems like trains, metros, and electric vehicles
- Running industrial machines in manufacturing plants
- Enabling healthcare equipment in hospitals and clinics
2. Why is electricity considered a secondary source of energy?
Electricity is called a secondary source of energy because it is generated by converting primary sources such as coal, natural gas, solar, wind, or nuclear energy into electrical energy. By itself, electricity does not occur naturally in a usable form and must be produced through conversion processes.
3. How does electricity improve efficiency in industries?
Industries utilize electricity to run machinery, automate production lines, and improve precision in manufacturing. This leads to:
- Increased productivity and reduced manual labor
- Higher accuracy and quality in products
- Enhanced safety with proper lighting and automated controls
- Faster production cycles and better resource management
4. What role does electricity play in modern communication systems?
Electricity powers communication networks including mobile phones, computers, and the internet. Signals travel as electrical currents in wires and via electrical pulses in optical fibers. Without electricity, instant communication, data sharing, and broadcasting are not possible.
5. In what ways does electricity contribute to environmental protection?
By adopting electricity-driven technologies such as electric vehicles and renewable energy sources (solar, wind), society reduces reliance on fossil fuels, which decreases air pollution and carbon emissions. Modern electrical devices are also designed to be energy efficient, promoting conservation and sustainable living.
6. How is electricity measured, and what is its SI unit?
Electric power is measured in watts (W), which represent the rate at which electrical energy is used or produced. The SI unit 'watt' is named after James Watt, and it is defined as one joule of energy used per second (1 W = 1 J/s).
7. What are the main differences between residential and industrial uses of electricity?
Residential use of electricity typically involves household appliances, lighting, and entertainment devices, usually with lower power needs. In contrast, industrial use requires large amounts of electricity for running heavy machines, equipment, and production lines, resulting in higher overall consumption and a need for more robust power infrastructure.
8. Why is energy conservation important when using electricity?
Conserving electricity helps to reduce energy costs, lower environmental pollution, conserve natural resources, and ensure a stable supply of power for all users. Minimizing electricity wastage also supports sustainability, benefiting both current and future generations.
9. Can you explain how electric vehicles use electricity and their benefits?
Electric vehicles (EVs) use electricity stored in batteries to power motors, producing movement without burning fossil fuels. Benefits of EVs include:
- Zero tailpipe emissions, reducing air pollution
- Lower operating costs compared to petrol or diesel vehicles
- Less noise pollution
- Potential use of renewable energy for charging
10. How does electricity enable advancements in the healthcare sector?
Electricity is critical in healthcare for operating life-saving equipment such as X-ray machines, MRI scanners, ventilators, and surgical tools. It also powers hospital lighting, air conditioning, and computerized patient record systems, enhancing patient care and safety.
