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Electricity (1/11) – Introduction
Last Update: January 15, 2026
Introduction
We live in a world powered by electricity, yet for many, it remains a conceptual “black box.”
My goal for this series of posts is to replace that ambiguity with a clear, physical reality.
I’ve structured these articles to be read in sequence (bottoms up if you will), allowing anyone with a high school education to build a solid, intuitive grasp of what electricity actually is.
We’re going to move past the surface level to explore the underlying principles of how this energy works.
By the end, you’ll have a deeper grasp and appreciation of how electricity functions fundamentally, as well as a practical understanding of how it sustains our modern way of life.
Including this introduction, this is an 11 part (or chapter) series of posts.
The chapters are listed, linked, and described below.
Chapter Links and Descriptions
Electricity (1/11) – Introduction
You are in Chapter 1 now where we give you a general introduction and a listing and description of each chapter (with a link provided to that chapter).
All the chapter links are available from inside any of the chapters.
Electricity (2/11) – Mathematical Foundations
This chapter establishes the mathematical and measurement standards necessary for precise scientific communication.
It covers the essential tools of the trade, from SI units and notation to the vector concepts that define how physical fields occupy space.
All the mathematical concepts used in this series are provided in a bottoms-up linked outline at the end of this section.
Electricity (3/11) – Motion and Force
Before exploring electromagnetism, this chapter grounds the reader in the classical laws of motion and the fundamental interactions that govern the universe.
By exploring mass, acceleration, and gravity, we get the necessary mechanical context to later compare gravitational fields with electric ones.
Electricity (4/11) – Energy, Work, and Power
This section explores the fundamental laws governing energy conservation and transformation, defining Work as the mechanical transfer of energy through force and distance.
It establishes the relationship between thermodynamics and Power, providing the essential framework for understanding how energy is harnessed and used at a specific rate.
Electricity (5/11) – Electrostatics, Current and Voltage
Now we introduce the stationary charge and the invisible “push” of the electric field.
It bridges the gap between static charges and moving ones, introducing the concepts of voltage and conductors that allow electricity to flow.
Electricity (6/11) – Electric Field, Magnetic Field, Current and Voltage Relationships
This chapter details the dynamic symmetry between electricity and magnetism, illustrating how field flux and moving charges generate one another.
By synthesizing the monumental discoveries of Ørsted and Faraday, it explains the physical laws that allow us to convert mechanical motion into electromotive force (EMF) and vice versa.
Electricity (7/11) – Circuits, Resistors, Inductors, and Capacitors
Here, the laws of electromagnetism are applied to practical components like resistors, capacitors, and inductors.
Electricity (8/11) – Circuits, Components, and Maxwell’s Equation
Building on our foundational understanding of capacitance, we now turn our attention to the development of the Ampere-Maxwell equation.
This crucial addition accounts for displacement current, effectively completing the set of laws that govern classical electromagnetism.
In this installment, we review the full suite of Maxwell’s equations in their entirety.
We summarize these laws in both their integral and differential forms for easy reference.
Electricity (9/11) – AC Theory
Moving beyond simple batteries, this chapter tackles the sinusoidally varying Alternating Current (AC).
By utilizing trigonometry and Euler’s Equation, the reader learns to analyze how energy oscillates and flows through complex electrical systems.
Electricity (10/11) – Power Systems and the Grid
We now scale the physics up to the industrial level, explaining how we power the modern world.
Here we track the lifecycle of electricity from initial induction to the home outlet.
We start with Alternating Current (AC) Generation, covering the electromagnetic principles used to produce a sine wave.
This transitions into Wye and Delta Three-Phase AC Circuits, which are the industry-standard wiring configurations used to distribute that power efficiently.
We then take a closer look at the various types of Power Plants that produce this power at scale.
From there, we examine the Electrical Power Line Structures required to transport high-voltage energy across long distances.
Finally we focus on the “end of the line”, showing how voltage is stepped down and safely distributed to a home’s dedicated and branched electrical circuits.
Electricity (11/11) – Timeline of Key Developments in Electromagnetism
This concluding chapter
- Chronologically lists key contributions to the development of electromagnetism from 1785 to 1895,
- gives homage to Faraday and Maxwell,
- and finishes with an exhaustive tabulation of developments in electrical knowledge and technology from 2750 BC to the 1990s.
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