Definition: Originally, a property of amber and certain other nonconducting substances to attract lightweight material when rubbed, or the cause of this property; now understood to be a phenomenon caused by the distribution and movement of charged subatomic particles and their interaction with the electromagnetic field.
Alright class, settle down, let’s dive in today! We're talking about electricity , a really important thing – it powers our lives, you see! Now, that dictionary definition is quite a mouthful, isn’t it? Let's break it down piece by piece, like building with blocks. First, we have the old story of amber and stone . Remember rubbing amber on wool? It would suddenly grab bits of dust and fluff – a magical trick! That was its original way to be known. It’s like a little surprise, you see it shown! Then, as scientists got clever and learned more about how things work, they realized it wasn't just magic at all. It’s not just a property of amber, standing tall. Instead, electricity is caused by something much smaller - charged subatomic particles – tiny bits within everything! These little guys have a charge, you see, positive or negative, wild and free! And these charged particles move around, they don't just sit still, it’s true. They dance with the electromagnetic field , working as a team for me and you! This field is all around us, a powerful, unseen grace, influencing everything in this very place! So, to put it simply: Electricity is when tiny charged particles move and play, creating a force that brightens up our day. Do you have any questions about this fascinating phenomenon? Don’t be shy, let's discuss and see if you can apply what we've learned.