the national grid Flashcards
what is the national grid
a giant web of wires that cover the whole of Britain, getting electricity from power stations to homes everywhere
how is electricity distributed
via the national grid
what is the national grid made of
cables and transformers that cover the uk and connects power stations to consumers
what happens to the electricity usage through the day
the demand changes
when does the demand for electricity increase
when people get up
come home from school or work
when it gets cold or dark
popular events like a sporting final
what do power stations often run at
below their maximum power output so there is spare capacity to cope with higher demand
what do national grids use
high potential difference and low current
how do you transmit a huge amount of power
Either high potential difference or high current
What is the problems with a high current
You lose loads of energy as the waves heat up and energy is transferred to the thermal energy store
What is good about potential difference
It is cheaper to lose the potential difference up really high and he is the current as low as possible
Forgiving power what happens if you increase the potential difference
It decreases your current which decreases energy loss by heating the wires and the surroundings
How do you get to take a difference for efficient transmissions
They use transformers and big pylons with huge insalators
What do all transformers have
A primary coil and a secondary school you joined with an Iron core
What is the power in primary coil equal to
The power in secondary coil
