This Schoolhouse Rocks

Here's a song that never goes out of style. Chances are a lot of parents still remember this one.

Electricity, Electricity
Music & Lyrics: Bob Dorough

When you're in the dark and you want to see,
You need uh...Electricity, Electricity
Flip that switch and what do you get?
You get uh...Electricity, Electricity
Every room can now be lit
With just uh...Electricity, Electricity

Where do you think it all comes from?
This powerful...Electricity, Electricity
Through high wires to here it comes,
They're bringing uh... Electricity,
Electricity

Every building must be wired to use it,
Uh...Electricity, Electricity

Power plants most all use fire to make it,
Uh...Electricity, Electricity

Burnin' fuel and usin' steam,
They generate...Electricity, Electricity

Turn that generator by any means,
You're making uh...Electricity, Electricity

A generator is a machine that contains a powerful magnet that creates a magnetic field. When wires are rotated rapidly throgh this field then a current of electricity is produced.

Now, if we only had a superhero who could stand here and turn the generator real fast, then we wouldn't need to burn so much fuel to make...electricity.

Benjamin Franklin flying his kite
Was searching for...Electricity, Electricity.
He knew that it had somethin' to do with lightnin',
It's all uh...Electricity, Electricity.

Rubbin' a comb with wool of fur will give you a charge of
Electricity (static) Electricity

Strokin' a cat to make it purr, you're buildin' up static
Electricity, Electricity

Electricity at rest is called static electricity.
Like in the winter wearing a heavy coat,
You get a shock off the doorknob.
Or you scrape across a carpet
And sneak up on your very best friend,
And zap 'im on the ear with a shock of -
Electricity, Electricity

Current flowing to and fro, makes a circuit of
Electricity, Electricity.
Voltage is the pressure that makes it go.
It's pushin' uh...Electricity, Electricity...
Watts will tell you just how much
You'll be usin'
Uh...Electricity, Electricity.

Powerful stuff, so watch that plug! It's potent
Electricity, Electricity.
Electricity, Electricity.

Still curious? Check out the Exploratorium.

Shocking!

The Theater of Electricty has been impressing teachers and students for quite a while. It features world's largest air-insulated Van de Graaff generator. Here's how a Van de Graff generator works. The generator is demonstrated at least twice daily, to teach public and school audiences about electricity and lightning. It can be a hair-raising experience.