Did you know that an electromagnetic wave travels at the speed of light, about 300,000 kilometers per second? Electricity is a truly fascinating phenomenon. In this guide, you will find all you need to write a successful essay on electricity, including:
- Interesting facts,
- 20 electricity essay topics,
- Writing prompts and a sample essay.
⚡ Electricity: Main Facts
Electricity is a fundamental part of nature. We can define it as the flow of electric charge that can be positive and negative. Electricity can occur naturally, such as in lightning, or it can be produced via a generator. Now, let’s look at the history of electricity to see how people harnessed it.
History of Electricity
The discovery of electricity played a massive part in pushing human civilization forward. From the following sections, you will learn who discovered electricity and how they did it.
Ancient Times
The earliest records of electricity come from Egypt. Ancient Egyptian texts depict a smooth-skinned fish with a long head, tiny eyes, and a round snout with three pairs of whiskers. Egyptians referred to this fish as “Thunderer of the Nile” or an electric catfish. Several ancient writers attested to the effect of electric shocks delivered by electric catfish. For example, it was used for treating gout and headaches.
The earliest known discovery of electricity dates back to 585 BC. Thales of Miletus recognized the attractive powers of amber rubbed with animal fur. He attributed it to the objects having a soul, but what he really observed was static electricity.
Early Modern Era
In the 16th century, English scientist William Gilbert discovered that our planet has two magnetic poles and that longitude is correlated with a magnetic variation. He created the world’s first electroscope to detect electric charge. He also coined the New Latin word “electricus,” which soon became the English word “electricity.”
In 1650, Otto von Guericke invented the first air pump that produced static electricity. Later in the 18th century, Benjamin Franklin proved that electricity and lightning are the same phenomena. He did it by attaching a metal key to a kite string and observing it being charged during a thunderstorm.
In 1791, Luigi Galvani saw a spark of electricity make a dead frog’s leg move. It occurred when two different metals came in contact with the frog. Alessandro Volta used Galvani’s discovery to invent the first electric battery, known as the voltaic pile.
Industrial Revolutions
The late 19th century saw the most significant progress in electrical engineering. Some examples include:
- Joseph Henry’s discovery of electromagnetism;
- Alexander Graham Bell’s invention of the telephone;
- Thomas Ahearn’s streetcars;
- Wilhelm Roentgen’s discovery of X-rays;
- Thomas Edison’s invention the phonograph andthe light bulb;
- Nikola Tesla’s invention of wireless communication;
- Joseph John Thomson’s discovery of electrons, and many more.
These scientists turned electricity into an essential tool for modern life.
In 1905, Albert Einstein demonstrated that the energy of light could be used to produce electricity. This discovery led to the quantum revolution. Einstein was awarded the Nobel Prize for his work on the law of the photoelectric effect. His findings made it possible to produce electricity with solar panels.
Greenleaf Whittier Pickard invented the crystal detector. It was one of the first devices for receiving radio broadcasts in the early 20th century.
💡 20 Electricity Essay Topics
Now that you know about the history of electricity, it is time to choose the right topic for your essay. Get started by looking at the topics below.
- The importance of solar energy.
- Can electricity cure diseases?
- The link between electricity use and climate change.
- Advantages and disadvantages of electric cars.
- Differences between the use of electricity in the 20th century and today.
- What can be done to reduce power supply interruptions?
- Amish life without electricity.
- The future of electrical engineering.
- Hydroelectric vs. geothermal electricity production.
- How the length of a wire affects its resistance.
- Alternative sources of energy.
- Challenges faced by the countries with an increased electricity demand.
- Could the timeline for the discovery of electricity look different?
- Pollution related to electricity production.
- Hydroelectricity in Nepal.
- The industrial revolution and its role in the discovery of electricity.
- Using nuclear power to generate electricity.
- Applications of electromagnetism in the future.
- Impact of the energy crisis on the Third World countries.
- Historical development of electronics.
Haven’t found a suitable topic? Try using our topic generator!
✍️ Essay on Electricity: Writing Prompts
Every student knows the struggle of staring at a blank page. That’s why we offer you a collection of writing prompts that will inspire you to start writing.
Essay on a Day without Electricity
For this essay, try to imagine living without electricity for the whole day. No heating. No phones. How would it feel?
- What are the benefits and disadvantages of the power cut on a Sunday morning? Think about how people’s daily routines would change. Would there be more in-person communication?
- You may also think more globally. Try predicting how the lack of electrical energy would influence humanity at large.
Save Electricity – Save Earth Essay
For this essay, research the ways of preserving electrical use. You may want to write about the conservation strategies and analyze the negative consequences of overusing electricity. Remember that many people are not aware of the adverse effects of using electrical power. Your goal is to help the reader understand the importance of conserving electricity. You can also show how we all can contribute to the cause.
The Invention of Electricity Essay
Feel free to get creative with this writing prompt:
- Did the invention of electricity mostly have positive or negative consequences? Try using the historical timeline of electricity to find examples and evaluate the main events.
- There is a common misconception that electricity is an invention. In fact, it’s a natural form of energy. Think about how people harnessed the power of electricity. How did it change the way we live?
Static Electricity Essay
This topic can be an excellent opportunity to explore the characteristics of static electricity. As you look for information, make sure you fully understand how static electricity is generated. Think about its discovery and how it occurs in nature. You may also be interested in researching antistatic agents and how they work.
📑 Life without Electricity: Essay Sample (250 Words)
Below you’ll find a short sample of an essay on electricity. It consists of typical parts: introduction, thesis statement, body, and conclusion. By the way, if you need to quickly make an essay conclusion, a good option is to summarize the paper automatically. You might want to use our tool for this purpose.
Life Without Electricity
Introduction:
Have you ever wondered if it is possible to survive without electricity? Most of us can handle a day or two, but can we survive for several months or even years? Electrical power cuts are becoming more frequent, which affects more and more people.
Despite surviving thousands of years without electricity before, people are wholly reliant on its power and would have trouble surviving without it today.
Body paragraphs:
The more technologically advanced the world gets, the more dependent on electricity it becomes. Each year, the world experiences a power shortage caused by natural disasters, bad weather, or power line faults. People get disrupted in their daily routines. They cannot get their laptop charged, use their freezer, and turn on the lights.
Two critical things that we need in our life the most are heating and water. Without electricity, they both are compromised. It is hard to imagine surviving without these necessities, as we rely on readily available power.
Conclusion:
A life without electrical power will not be easy for most people. We are so dependent on electricity today that we feel extremely vulnerable when a power outage happens. While taking electricity for granted, we use it without thinking twice. With natural disasters looming around the corner, the world needs a better backup plan such as renewable technologies, off-grid solutions, and alternative energy sources.
Now you are ready to write your own essay on electricity! And when you’re done, the last thing to do is to make a cover page.
Tell us in the comments what topic you’ve chosen. We wish you good luck with your studies!
❓ Essay on Electricity: FAQ
How Do We Save Electricity?
We can practice energy conservation by using less energy. It will help reduce environmental impact and lower the cost of electricity. Saving energy starts with adjusting our day-to-day behavior and using energy-efficient appliances. Even small changes in habits add up over time, reducing our impact on the environment.
What is Electricity?
Electricity is a flow of electric power or charge. It is a phenomenon that occurs naturally in the form of lightning. Electricity is also a secondary source which means that it can be converted from other sources of energy like coal, oil, natural gas, or nuclear power.
Why is Electricity Important?
Electricity is an essential part of our civilization. We use it for lighting, heating, cooling, and charging numerous devices and appliances. Since the Industrial Revolution, most inventions have been designed to be powered by electricity. Electrical power enhances our quality of life and stimulates the world’s economic productivity.
What Would Happen If We Had No Electricity?
If electricity disappears, the immediate problem would be water shortages since the pumps would stop working without electricity. Consequently, there will be no access to basic necessities. We rely on electricity so much that the transition to life without it would be slow and challenging.