What is electricity? - Electricity Explained - (1)

Electricity playlist: • Electricity
What is electricity? How does electricity work? What do electrons do? What is short circuiting? These are all questions answered in this video: A fundamental explainer on what electricity is and how it works.
In following videos we'll look at voltage, ampere, ohm (resistance) and many more electricity related topics. All of this is to build a foundation of knowledge to serve all the future (and past) videos here on Into The Ordinary.
A couple of choices were made during the production of this video, that can be helpful to know:
- I chose to mention the Bohr-model in relation to the orbital model to bring the point across that there is more to atoms than just this. The What Are Atoms? video better explains orbitals than this video does, though.
- I intentionally used the word "shells" instead of orbits because it better catches what electrons are in real life, although still a simplification. This video is about electricity, not particle physics.
- Power generation, how batteries work, amps, volts, ohms, are all topics I want to address in separate videos.
- There will probably be a few more questions about this video, which I will try to address in the comments or in the description, here.
Never directly connect a wire to both holes of a wall socket, and never directly connect a wire to both ends of a battery! This can be dangerous and potentially life threatening!
🌏🌍🌎 Care to add your own language in subtitles?
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Major thanks to Launchable Socks for doing the audio on this video! Check out his channel:
/ @launchablesocks
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Sources:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isotope
• Video
www.thoughtco.com/definition-...
nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atoommo...
www.allaboutcircuits.com/text...
science.howstuffworks.com/elec...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electri...
simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ele...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electri...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potenti...
education.jlab.org/qa/particl...
www.school-for-champions.com/s...
www.scientificamerican.com/ar...

[@TieXiongJi]

As an Electrical Engineer, I certify the information is accurate and incredibly easy to understand. Well done, Creator!

[@magmaman8453]

what you talking about this is 6th grade science

[@blse7740]

How do your relate an experiment to the concept of electricity??

[@vuldakbuld319]

@@magmaman8453 And yet most people don't know it

[@IntoTheOrdinary]

Thank you so much!

[@STANENHYPEN574]

BRO THIS IS WHAT U LEARN IN 6TH GRADE

[@fernandoteruo3244]

This is exactly what education is missing these days. Get something complex and turn it into ordinary. So everyone can learn.

[@Rationalist101]

@XY ZW How about you just watch the video

[@user-pb4jg2dh4w]

True

[@brandonberisford]

True, however if you TRULY want to learn the subject of electricity and magnetism you must learn vector/multivariable calculus and start reading a proper textbook on the topic.

[@muhammadumer1406]

Absolutely Right..

[@matthewsmatthews456]

Absolute agree it make things seem ordinary

[@cassiesimons7578]

I am a science teacher. I struggled teaching about electricity and magnetism because I couldn't find any material that truly explained how it works in simple terms. Everything I found seemed way too confusing and overcomplicated. This is brilliant! Thanks, I will be using these videos to educate my kids. Way to go

[@petergreen5337]

Well said.

[@lene3667]

If you’re a teacher aren’t you supposed to come up with simple methods of how to teach it

[@paulinedc397]

Man do I wish you'd been my teacher😅

[@inara89iz]

I am also a teacher of science

[@raymonddouglas5067]

That is very bad 😅😮😂😢

[@gieloc2358]

You just turned 4 weeks of learning and 12 hours of homework into a 10 minute video. Well done this is EXTREMELY helpful to me (and probably many others)

[@deang5622]

It's only 4 weeks of education if you're mentally slow. In my country the material is covered by two courses, a physics course and a chemistry course, which run concurrently for two years, along side many other courses that also run concurrently. So it's perfectly reasonable then for one course to teach its material at a different time to the other, and let's suppose the material is taught 4 months apart. It is then not reasonable to say it's 4 months of education. The correct way is to say "it takes 2 hours of education" because each lesson is 1 hour long. Let's not exaggerate .

[@karanraut4417]

Sorry to say but its misconception that electron flow from one terminal of battery to other in fact they oscillate so little that their movement is negligible, its the electric field and magnetic field that carry the energy around. electrons stay in approximately the same space. electrons do not carry energy from battery to bulb its the fields. (we are taught wrong about electricity in colleges)

[@obayrafi2632]

Lol i studied electricity in school for like 4 years And watched like 20 videos But i never understood it as clear as i did now Keep up 💓💓

[@IntoTheOrdinary]

Thanks :)

[@themediocrepill]

I know right

[@amritghosh2357]

seriously

[@omarabouzeid4304]

Good thing I’m not studying electricity in school and decided to learn about it online on my own lol

[@FedorKai]

Obay Rafi same I studied applied physics for 4 years and know all the formulas by heart but none of my teachers actually explained to us wtf electricity really is.

[@spaceadventure2525]

Actually im just 13 years old and i like to study about atoms. But no such videos were there! In your video, you explained slowly and gently, thats what makes people understand in better way! Thank you soo much whoever you are!

[@jaredschwerdt7917]

I'm 14 and Me too when I was 13 I was watching these videos too and I'm still am

[@TechToppers]

Great!

[@carlnikolov]

Glad to see young people are interested in science.

[@danimtions7964]

Bro i am studying physiscs since class 4 for now i m understang the schrodinger equation

[@david.ricardo]

Gabriella KAO “the move of electrons” its hard to truly understand them without deriving the meaning and interpretation from mathematics. You can search “quantum numbers” it will help you clarify some topics, try to understand the meaning of each if the quantum numbers, do not try to translate things like the spin of an electron to classical spins in the macro world.

[@RandomerFellow]

As a Swedish educator, I give you full marks. 'Through your animations, explanations and a precise pace

[@alka_3.4]

when 3 years of chemistry class taught you almost nothing, but this 10 minute youtube video saved you from repeating class

[@pjousma]

I am an educated electrical specialist and I approve this!

[@lilouthecoolest]

lol

[@surajshokeen2634]

But electricians are uneducated.

[@surajshokeen2634]

@M Detlef How?

[@ishan2420]

@@surajshokeen2634 its a joke, shocking ¯\_ಠ_ಠ_/¯

[@worldamongus5053]

Lets be frnd then

[@jimivey6462]

I wish the teacher had explained it this clearly back when I was in school! Thank you for this great video.

[@banusuthan7432]

agreed

[@cigabo1303]

Yes Jim

[@bibhusanpradhan1586]

I am a Physics teacher and I always look for easier ways to teach my students and make things clear. Thank you for this video. It is very useful. And the way the animation and the narration goes its so perfect. Am looking forward to more videos from you.

[@fortune3911]

Thank you for your service teacher.

[@alexcandale5310]

I’ve never commented on a KZbin video in my life. But I swear to god or whoever you believe in, I learned more about electricity in that 11 mins then I have my entire electrical apprenticeship. That was eye opening 😂😂😂😂

[@MS-it9vv]

I don’t consider myself stupid, but I never really understood some of these high-level concepts until now. Thank you for sharing this.

[@Safa2007_]

First of all, I want to thank u with the bottom of my heart for explaining electricity in such a simple and understanding way.

[@barryfoster453]

As a heating engineer, I would like to thank my old tech college instructor for teaching me Ohms Law - as 'Virgins Are Rare' and 'Where Virgins Are'. As a 17 year-old , it was a brilliant way to remember how to work out wattage, voltage, amps, and resistance. It's never left me, and I'm 62, now. I use it almost weekly in my job. I only came on here to refresh my memory on the name of the outermost electron cloud.

[@devlust]

I can't tell how brilliant this video was for me, extremely well made and explained. Thanks a lot!

[@tomsmith8543]

I've tried to understand electricity for a long time. You have taken a lot of the mystery out. There is still a big mystery out there to go with this crazy stuff. I learned more in that one video and I have learned in my whole life. You have a great way of explaining things. You are on your way thank you.

[@devinbrita3770]

Thank you so much for this video! I’ve worked with electrical for quite a while now, and always understood the basics... but to see what’s actually going on at the molecular level is so neat!

[@zaheerkundgol8123]

I have never appreciated anyone that this deserve. And I also don't comment like 99 percent of the time and this video is just mind boggling. This guy gets a subscribe. The way he keeps it for beginners to grasp is just outstanding! I don't think I have seen a youtuber this much committed to explain physics. Keep posting you will be the best!

[@boboganbobogan9297]

I have no words to describe how good this explanation was. Please, make many many videos on physics topics. You are very creative and deserve millions of subscribers.

[@sarveshwarans8037]

Excellent animation.. I appreciate your effort

[@IntoTheOrdinary]

Thank you!

[@ZzColdzDeathzZ]

I agree the animation is spot on

[@mohandasnm3600]

Good

[@JohnUzojr]

The animation is on point. Industry standard. You should get hired immediately

[@PK-qs5xw]

@@IntoTheOrdinary What software do you use to animate this

[@creativewebmedia-uk]

I happened across your video today (as one does ) and found it to be very well done. Great Pace, Great Animation, and a very listenable explanation. I am an electrician of 35 years "and have never came across such a well described lesson on the basics of what electricity is. Thanks for all the hard work

[@gathelikon]

thanks, man.. I'm 31 years old now, never understand physic in high school, and always curious about how electricity is actually work.. wish there was video like this in that time..

[@thinginground5179]

Damn I never thought about that. Us teens are lucky these days because we have these videos to help!

[@jahnvisingh8015]

The best thing about this video is that it teaches things in the correct order. In most of the books, they teach about electric current first and then explain charges and all the other things. However, it is quite confusing at the beginner level to imagine something you never actually get to see. The use of daily life examples helps to actually relate to what happens inside a wire when electric current flows through it even though it is not accurate. I am very helpful to the creators of this video and the team working behind it. I appreciate your hard work and would definitely suggest this to my friends.

[@lavaniadelrey2807]

Im taking the asvab and electricity is a subtest on there. I was so hopeless because id study for hours to no avail, Never did I think an electrical video could be explained to me where I understood. THANK YOU times a million this video was genius !

[@tempo7an677]

The entire semester I learned in engineering college can't even be compared to your 10 min video. You've got a great talent there to explain stuff to people. keep it up ♥♥♥

[@cleray3374]

Everything about this video, the animation, explanation, analogy, are all simply brilliant!!

[@yacinefadhlaoui951]

you have just said what i was learning for more than 4 years

[@MyName-fr3nf]

Wow, this is the type of teaching I need in my life.

[@movoyemickele]

OMG, this is what I need, the explanation is so clear. I need more of this, could you make more videos about electricity, also an explanation about resistor, capacitor, fuse, diode, inductor, different between AC and DC, and how can a power supply convert AC to DC, also how electrical travel on the mainboard. Because I guess no one can explain something too technical except you. Please please :)

[@DemetriLoizou]

This video is fantastic!! It covers so many things in ten minutes, from the structure of the atom to how fuses work!

[@pallhe]

Great video. I should have learnt this stuff years ago. Very clearly explained. It's crazy how we depend so much on electricity, yet have no idea how it works. Now I can at least tell my kids about the basics.

[@danielraymadden]

The most accurate and well illustrated video I have seen.

[@amanpratap3626]

You are kind of people who are required for the world to Enlighten

[@louena7777]

Electricity is a truly amazing phenomenon that has changed the way we live our lives. As soon as electricity began to be harnessed in the 19th century, it quickly became the driving force behind many technological advancements. Today, we take electricity for granted and it is an integral part of our daily lives. It powers everything from our smartphones and computers to the lights in our homes and the motors in our cars. The power of electricity is awe-inspiring, from the crackle of lightning during a thunderstorm to the smooth hum of an electric motor. It is a seemingly endless source of energy that can light up our world and bring us countless benefits, making our lives easier, safer and more efficient. The versatility of electricity is truly amazing, as it can be used to power everything from simple light bulbs to high-tech medical equipment. Without electricity, our world would be a very different place. Therefore, it needs to be developed and utilized in the best possible way, to help us lead better lives.

[@caw2161]

Can't believe these odds: 20k "likes" and 400 "not liked". Goes to show how informative this YT'er is. Now every time I plug something in, I'll see nothing but electrons in my head.

[@genome616]

I would agree with you if the video was correct but unfortunately it is far from correct and is just expressed in a false simplified analogy normally aimed at the young mind where critical and analytical thinking skills have yet to develop.

[@fukz8820]

I looked for good videos in english to repeat my knowledge about electricity and improve my english. This one is very good and i will still watch another one's. Thank you from Germany and keep going on ! :)

[@Lina-dk1ct]

Wow, this is truly amazing video, man! I wish teachers at school would explain the lessons the way you do. You have a talent in it. Great explanation and animation. I watched and understood whole school program, that was not attractive for me, but is now. Thank you and keep it up! :)

[@NikiWinProd]

the whole thing about learning effectively is to simplify information for a beginner. never saw the job getting done that good like in this video.

[@RizkyImam]

Thank you. Has studied in school for 13 years but I just got understand by watching this video. Huge thanks !!👌

[@theangryblonde6517]

This made everything I’ve ever watched about electricity make so much more sense!! Thank you!

[@IntoTheOrdinary]

Thabk you and you're welcome 😊

[@redhidinghood9337]

This is an insanely good video. Incredibly well explained from the ground up. Even if you don't have prior knowledge in physics of chemistry, this video explains each concept do simply and intuitively thay you won't have trouble understanding. Just wow. Hats off to the creator.

[@DarrenRea]

Brilliant simple description on some brilliantly simple (but complete) creation. Thank you.

[@ramilurazmanov]

Wow! Such an amazing video. Everything is right to the point. I've watched lots of videos concerning this topic but this is the best so far.

[@Switcher321]

This is a phenomenal explanation! Best Ive seen/heard for sure :) Subbed

[@green_quadrix]

The best channel i found!🤩 You are a genius! I love the simplicity and animations! I learned more by watching this than siting in a classroom for 1 week... New subscriber, love your work😚 Keep it up

[@Hans_247]

Everyone should learn how to explain just like you did! Appreciate your work.

[@godwinmpazi1560]

Beautiful..May God bless and keep you for future generations.Amen

[@surajrshetty]

Lucid explanation! Excellent for someone from non science background.

[@zralokk]

Excellent explanation. I would love for you to create more follow-up videos in this series.

[@user-tp2yp2gg1o]

Fantastic illustration of Atoms and Electrons! Brilliant. Thank you

[@shahid123galaxy]

Probably the best introduction to electricity I've ever come across. Kudos to the creator👏

[@rvrby2541]

Thank you very much! Your videos are awesome: picture, sound, speech, explanation, subtitles. It's really sad that you stop producing. Can't wait for the next video with an explanation of what happens when electrons reach the positive terminal!

[@aitaseller]

They are truly amazing people in The World! Amazing explanation, the animations are simply breathtaking!

[@jeffcampsall5435]

I am impressed by both the esthetic and effectiveness of your graphics/animations and doubly impressed you did this all yourself 👍

[@ambroseaarondavid9677]

This is one of the hardest topics to explain you have explained it so beautifully

[@TigDegner]

This is the best explanation I've found yet. I've gotten by on the old water pressure/flow analogy for a while but wanted to better understand what's actually happening. "Electrons are not spent…" answered one of my most basic questions. Thank you. All right, onward…

[@karanraut4417]

Sorry to say but its misconception that electron flow from one terminal of battery to other in fact they oscillate so little that their movement is negligible, its the electric field and magnetic field that carry the energy around. electrons stay in approximately the same space. electrons do not carry energy from battery to bulb its the fields. (we are taught wrong about electricity in colleges)

[@TigDegner]

@@karanraut4417 that's what I was thanking the video for explaining.

[@user-wc4gg3iy8p]

Fack for you 🤪😈

[@freyabrown5]

I just got an electrical apprenticeship and have been looking for electrical education videos and this was brilliant, thank you so much. Going to watch more of your videos and I hope you keep creating content!

[@nvfpv]

THANK YOU!!! Most videos on introductory electricity do a bad job at explaining the basis and just start throwing units out there.

[@Vikermajit]

Incredibly awesome video. Never had any tutor in school who could explain in this manner...Thanks, sir. Now I have a better understanding. God bless.

[@iceiceisaac]

Will you ever finish this series? Really loved this one

[@phamcong5812]

I am not an electrical student or engineer but I could understand this video quite clearly. I wish our education system could create thing like this and apply in the study program for the students. We would be a better engineer. Million thanks to the one who created this.

[@timbabbitt460]

A great and simple delivery of information, now you are better informed

[@bhargavahegde2404]

wow..thanks @into the Ordinary...the concepts were explained very simply with animations..

[@stewartvclark4008]

Well done, "electrons are carriers of charge"

[@yousafalishar4749]

Electric video

[@randyfleet9968]

But what about debits?

[@justynafitesta8363]

Fantanstic explanation. There is still hope for me to understand electricity.

[@tanyapathak208]

Have no words to thank you I was searching on youtube for days for learning what's the chemistry behind this physics but no one made it clear Thankyou so much

[@Thanos-hp1mw]

I always feared electricity and magnetism in physics I think its my friend now, thanks to this video.

[@SagarKumar-xn1uf]

Dude how do you have so less subs with this level of animations !!! Hats off to you mate !!!

[@jameskaten8291]

That's a really nice explanation. It contains an error, though, beginning about 9:39, when you say that the depicted short circuit can be dangerous because the electrons do not encounter resistance. In fact, it's the resistance of the wire that makes this dangerous as the resistance produces heat. If the wire had no resistance, then the flow of electrons would not produce heat.

[@achrace.profrichardachara]

This is why I read the comments. Great lecture; helpful amendment.

[@melonachii]

why? If there was no resistance, wouldnt the electrons flow much faster therefore producing heat? 🤔

[@grantjones8690]

@@melonachii The battery or whatever source has its own internal resistance. If it was shorted out with a very low resistant path, the battery would heat up.

[@saberzain318]

Excellent during my college days I tried hard to understand electricity but never found good tutors. But this 10 minutes video gave complete details about electricity.

Best and simplest explanation I ever heard. Thank you

[@IntoTheOrdinary]

Update June 2019: Wow! So many views! And so many people having added translations! I hadn't noticed - thanks to Dimitrios for bringing it to my attention. The community contributed captions will aide this video in helping more people. Thanks to everyone who contributed! Original: This video will serve as a basis for other, electricity-related videos, such as one on VHS machines or curling irons. This one's very long compared to my other videos, for a good reason. I wanted to clearly lay down the fundamentals of electricity and its electrons before moving on to amperes, voltage, watts, ohms, et cetera. Thank you for watching :)

[@SaurabhSingh-io4mw]

Into The Ordinary Thank you so much ❤❤

[@zainmulk9047]

Never understood a physical concept this well!

[@sabrinoladahmed3672]

Thank you for this video

[@pineapplelord2422]

Into The Ordinary make what is energy please

[@fixitluke]

No thank you 👍.subbed.

[@gabrielcheverez8175]

What a great video! I'm an electrical engineering student and I'm amazed with how well explained is this video. awesome animation!

[@saskiavanhoutert6081]

Yes a very good explanation, I agree with you. the INTERNET can be educational, informational, entertaining and handy.

[@deepakrishna2105]

I must say, this video explains it all, the flow is information is spot on!

[@adolfconradigharas439]

Thank you so much for this, your big a help in understanding these complex lessons. May GOD Bless you.

[@aparnatripathi1731]

Awsm. This is what actually missing in today's education. Really helpful ❤️❤️

[@vinaymishra7509]

I would just want to say, Thank You and it was just amazing.

[@yabrusnikin]

What a great video! It's so sad you abandoned this useful channel. Anyway thank you for your work. It helps.

[@kaemmili4590]

the name of the channel announced the marvel already, ur video and the whole playlist is by far the best content on youtube about the topic

[@updateofficial5893]

This is real study of science seriously man you explained it well done no words it's a rare channel of explaining electricity's

[@Xeno_Bardock]

"We are now confident that electric and magnetic phenomena are attributable to ether, and we are perhaps justified in saying that the effects of static electricity are effects of ether under strain, and those of dynamic electricity and electromagnetism effects of ether in motion." - Nikola Tesla.

[@operationhope1959]

Thank you so much. Excellent, one of the best I have ever seen and heard. You are a great communicator with a really good voice for this subject. Dr. Mark

[@josephinebennington7247]

November 2021. Contributor Veritaseum and others have just posted, posited and peer-reviewed each other that the electrical energy that makes electrical items work is actually the Electro-magnetic field surrounding the circuit wire and created by the moving electrons. Happy for my own understanding of this new approach also to be peer-reviewed.

[@brunonotthemars7856]

I never thought I would be actually interested in learning this. Idk, the school made it seem so boring. But this is awesome. That's why I love this channel: Clear and easy explanations. Great job! :D

[@IntoTheOrdinary]

Glad it was helpful! Hope to find time to make more :)

[@balmeseducationtv2095]

thank you. it helps me a lot

[@sohamjanagave6921]

I AM SO THANKFUL THAT I CANT EXPRESS , EXPLANATION AND ANIMATION IS NEXT LEVEL🤩👏

[@Freezyfied]

Been an electrician for a couple years now and even back in trade school I didn't quite grasp the whole picture. This video really filled in the gaps and questions I had, thank you!

[@deang5622]

I wouldn't admit that to anyone that you know or encounter in real life. You're supposed to be an "expert".

[@charlesklein7232]

your voice is perfect you are a "NARRATOR" congratulations! few are! excellent! i have subscribed and will watch all your videos. you speak in a slow and poistive manner.

[@matthewconrad8843]

You’re literally the best teacher

[@elizabethsmith4838]

This was the best explanation about electricity really wish yall made the other videos ...still love it

[@sametyetimoglu6026]

Please upload more! I really needed this back when I had to learn this in the most inefficient and vague way possible. The education system is outdated and your videos show this.

[@vandanabande8726]

I didnt understood electricity even after 5 hours of my teacher. But I understannd now very well only in 10min

[@thecrudelab3204]

phew thanks dude i was wondering how these things work! school didnt really explan them to me that well

[@amitchoudhary1613]

Excellently done ...great work . Students deserve such simple and yet profound teaching

[@h0tdish]

really great stuff! if this was available when i was preparing for university i wouldn't have needed any private lessons

[@z1zn]

This is amazing work! Thank you! i have never seen such an amazing animation ! شكر جزيلا على جهودكم المبذولة.

[@user-np5kg3cp7t]

من جد

[@user-np5kg3cp7t]

👍

[@user-np5kg3cp7t]

👍

[@MarcusT86]

Background music sounds like the galaxy map in Mass Effect... I damn well approve of that! Great choice!

[@oscarg7460]

It is a special and needed talent to be able to reduce complex scientific concepts to easily understandable lessons. Congratulations.

[@jaysant6958]

5:07 This makes perfect sense but I just watched 3 videos that say the opposite. They say electrons from the carpet go onto you. And even after a lot of googling, they’re saying the same thing, that it jumps onto you. Is there like a big debate out there on this or are they all just getting it wrong? See this from the Bill Nye website: “When you drag your feet on the carpet, electrons from the carpet jump onto you.” Why are they all wrong? This video so far makes the most sense to me.