![](../art_global/space.gif)
Moving Electrons and Charges
![In electricity, negative charges build and then move to the positive region.](art/elec_intro1_240.gif)
There aren't a lot of places that you can see electricity. The most commonly- observed form of electricity is probably lightning. Lightning is a big spark that occurs when lots of electrons move from one place to another very quickly. There are three basic forms of lightning, cloud to cloud, cloud to surface, and surface to cloud. All are created when there is an unequal distribution of electrons. You can also see smaller sparks of electricity in science labs that contain Van de Graff generators, and can see even smaller arcs of electrons at home when you scuff your feet and then touch something like a metal doorknob (static electricity).
Electricity Around You
It's easy to see the uses of electricity around you. In fact, there are charges around your computer, your house, and your city. Electricity is constantly flowing through all of the wires in your town. There is also electricity in your flash light. That kind of electricity created by batteries is called direct current. The other major type is found in the outlets of your house. That household form of electricity is called alternating current.![Next Stop on Physics Site Tour Next Stop On Physics4Kids Tour](../art_global/nextstop.png)
![Next page in the Electricity and Magnetism section Next page on electricity and magnetism.](../art_global/nextelectric.png)
![Return to Top of Page Return to Top of Page](../art_global/returntotop.png)
Or search the sites for a specific topic.
- Overview
- Charges
- Conductors
- Electric Fields
- Magnetic Fields
- Current
- Resistance
- Faraday's Law
- Coulomb's Law
- Magnets
- DC Power
- AC Power
- More Topics
![Rader Network Side Navigation](../art_global/nav-rader-side.png)
Electricity and Magnetism (NASAConnect Video)
![Did you know? Physics Fact.](art/didyouknow/atom-bond.png)
Useful Reference Materials
Encyclopedia.com (Electricity):http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/electricity.aspx
Encyclopedia.com (Magnetism):
http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/magnetism.aspx
Wikipedia (Electricity):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity
Wikipedia (Magnetism):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetism
Encyclopædia Britannica (Electricity):
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/182915/electricity