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Electricity

Power can be generated from renewable sources such as sun, wind, water, geothermal and biofuels. Learn more from these resources covering circuits, power generation and stations, experiments, conductors, insulators, uses and safety. SCIS no. 1819477

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Exploring solar power

In this activity, students explore sunlight being converted into electricity. They are introduced to the concept of photovoltaics – making electricity from sunlight. They will become aware of some ...

The numbers and math behind our everyday appliances.

Sources of electrical energy

Electrical energy can be generated from renewable and non-renewable sources.

Safety tips from Transpower, the owner and operator of New Zealand’s national grid.

Science experiments with electricity

Simple science experiments with electricity and magnetism.

Science and art

Using electricity to burn patterns onto wood.

Electrical conductors and insulators

Some materials allow current to flow freely and some offer resistance.

Future batteries

Future batteries will charge in seconds, last months and power over the air.

Simple ways to lower energy bills

Some simple easy ways to save on power bills.

Climbing wind turbines for a living

These days, giant wind turbines are supplying more and more of our clean energy. And when they break down, they need to be fixed fast.

How electricity is generated

The relationship between magnetism and generation of electricity.

Statistics relating to electricity use in New Zealand.

How electricity works

An animated guide to the science of electricity, how it is measured and power lines.

Electricity in nature

Electricity is all around us in nature.

Circuit workbench

Circuit board activity to help learn about the characteristics of series and parallel circuits.

Six-foot electric eel

This huge predator can blast prey with 500 volts of electricity.

Conversion of energy from flowing water into electricity.

Explanations about electricity, static electricity and current electricity etc.

Geothermal energy

Clean renewable energy from hot water found beneath the earth’s surface.

Electricity for kids

Facts, games, projects, worksheets etc. on electricity.

Electric circuits

A lesson plan on modelling, building and drawing electric circuits to test the conductivity of various materials.

A bird can sit on a power line without getting electrocuted.

Understanding meter readings

What do the numbers on my meter mean?

Radio

Radio, portable.

Electric tram

Electrical circuit diagram

Electrical circuit diagram

Electrical circuit diagram, taken for Kenyon Brand and Riggs Ltd and General Electric Company in 1970 by K E Niven and Co, commercial photographers of Wellington. Other - Reference number 960/70. ...

Technician survives an electric current of 75,000 volts.

Lake Coleridge power station

Lake Coleridge power station

The New Zealand government began building hydro stations in the early 1900s. Lake Coleridge was the first major station selected because of its geography and proximity to the growing city of Christ...

Electric car charging area

Electric car charging area

Rod Davenport in a one person electric car owned by Roy McGuinness, Petone. Photographed ca 7 January 1966 by Evening Post photographer Mark Coote. Publication note - published in the Evening Post...

Inventor, Frank Cresswell

Inventor, Frank Cresswell

This is a photograph of inventor Frank Cresswell from Petone. He created his own solar panels and wind turbines to produce electrical energy. His efforts to harness energy were successful because h...

Electric lighting at Reefton

Reefton was the first town in New Zealand to get electricity.

Wairakei Geothermal power station

Wairakei Geothermal power station

Geothermal energy is one of the most attractive and reliable sources of renewable energy in New Zealand. It produces around 13% of the country’s electricity supply.

Saving energy

The Jitterati comic strips are an attribute of the creative talent of Grant Buist, a cartoonist and animator from Wellington. His characters are used in satires on political, social and economic de...

Huntly Power Station

Huntly Power Station

The Huntly Power Station plays an important role in New Zealand’s electricity supply.

Electric power station

Electric power station

Historical image of an electric power station.

Solar-power panel, Antarctica

Solar-power panel, Antarctica

New Zealand scientists working in Antarctica rely on solar panels such as this to power some of their field equipment. The photograph was taken at Cape Hallett, a small ice-free area in North Victo...

Brooklyn wind turbine

Brooklyn wind turbine

The Brooklyn wind turbine on Polhill was built by the Electricity Corporation of New Zealand in the early 1990s to test the feasibility of a regional wind farm. Visible from many parts of Wellingto...

Clyde dam

The Clyde dam is a major producer of electricity. In New Zealand the electricity market has no international competition and local competition is limited. Such a good is often described as ‘non-tra...

Electronics factory

Electronics factory

Tait Electronics manufactures portable radios, base stations, mobiles and mobile data products. This factory in Christchurch, shown here in the 1970s, is one of several owned by the company in New ...

The Slipper bath

The Slipper bath

Use of electricity to help ease joint pain and stiffness.

Underground power lines

Underground power lines

In the 20th century municipalities began putting services like electricity cables underground to improve the appearance of streets. This clip shows how it was done.

Electric train

Ten English Electric ED locomotives were bought for use on the Wellington–Paekākāriki section of the North Island main trunk line – a stretch of line that was electrified by 1940. The first locomot...

The electric fence

The electric fence

The electric fence, developed in the late 1930s by Waikato inventor Bill Gallagher, has many uses on the farm. Here it is used to allocate feed when dairy cows are dry in winter. Bill Gallagher and...

Curious application of electricity

Curious application of electricity

The period 1901-1909 was marked by some notable electrical discoveries such as the first true radio broadcast, and the arc generator, etc.

Electric shocks

Electric shocks

A chain of unfortunate events occurred in Auckland when a telephone wire came in contact with a high voltage wire from the city electrical power house.

Auckland power fails

Auckland power fails

Around 85,000 homes were without power due to an outage in Auckland in October, 2014. It was caused by a fire that damaged Transpower’s Penrose substations.

Transmission project commissioned

The first of New Zealand's three big electricity transmission projects was formally commissioned by the Prime Minister on Thursday.

Smart energy meters

Consumers learn about energy consumption with new energy meters.

Aucklanders catch on to E-bike trend

Aucklanders catch on to E-bike trend

They've been used by Wellingtonians for years, but now Aucklanders are catching on to the growing trend of E-bikes.

Disposable batteries

Disposable batteries

Heavy duty, alkaline or lithium batteries – which are the best?

Castle Point lighthouse plan

Castle Point lighthouse plan

This is one of a series of plans on the Castle Point Lighthouse. Held in the Marine Department plans, it dates from 1911 - two years before the light on the lighthouse was first lit. Technical de...

Early TV studios

Early TV studios

Title: TV, studios [22 photographs] Archives reference: AAFH 7304 W4771Box 2 / p B41-1457 collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search#/?q=20828557 At 7.30pm on 1 June, 1960, New Zealand’s firs...

Renewable energy sources

Renewable energy is fuel that comes from a source that can be replenished in a short amount of time. This includes solar, wind, water, geothermal power and bioenergy. While renewable energy sources...

The Sun is the source of almost all our energy. It is a huge ball of hot gases that gives off energy as heat and light. This is called solar energy, which just means energy from the Sun. The amount...

Detecting light in space

Dr Melanie Johnston-Hollitt, from Victoria University of Wellington, describes how she uses different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum (X-rays and radio waves) to explore galaxy clusters.

Lightning explained

Lightning is a large-scale natural spark discharge that occurs within the atmosphere or between the atmosphere and the Earth’s surface.

Photovoltaic roofs

Professor Ashton Partridge from Massey University aims to produce a roof that will supply us with all the electricity we need.

Life without electricity

Surayati's village is in a remote patch of land, 20km away from the nearest town. She has no access to basic needs like electricity. When night falls, she lights a small fire by burning palm kernel...

What would life be like without electricity?

This video will help students explore electricity and make creative links between science, history, literacy and design.

Which of these materials makes the light go on?

This Level 1 & 2 activity uses electricity to explore how different materials behave in different ways.

Renewable energy sources

Renewable energy comes from sources that are naturally replenished in a relatively short timeframe.

Using electricity

These Level 3 and 4 activities from NZ Maths look at energy usage in three different ways: converting between different measures of energy, measuring the energy use of an electric jug, and estimati...

Electricity resources

New Zealand curriculum-based activities and resources for students in years 1 to 13 in both English and te reo Māori.

Electricity for kids

Explore the exciting subject of electricity with this range of experiments, free games, cool science fair projects, challenging quizzes, interesting facts, amazing videos, worksheets and more.

Solar power in Tokelau

This Junior Journal article highlights the world-first achievement of Tokelau in using renewable energy sources (solar energy and coconut oil) for all its electricity.

Driving us into the future

A Level 4 Connected article looking at electric cars, and comparing them to petrol-fuelled cars.

A poem from Junior Journal 57.

This Level 2 School Journal article looks at where power comes from.

5 inventors that made it possible for you to have power today

The genius and curiosity of numerous scientists was required for us to have power when we flip a switch.

The benefits of riding e-bikes

Government workers say electric bikes are life changing after a new initiative that gives them up to 50% off purchase prices.

Serbian-American engineer and physicist Nikola Tesla (1856-1943) made dozens of breakthroughs in the production, transmission and application of electric power.

Who discovered electricity?

The National Geographic Resource Library collection on electricity, including articles, videos, activities, interactives, and lesson plans.

The National Geographic Resource Library collection on electricity, including articles, videos, activities, interactives, and lesson plans.

How sustainable are electric scooters?

E-scooters - stand-up, electrically powered scooters - are becoming more popular around the world.

Tonga biggest solar power farm yet

Tonga, with the help of aid donors, the Asian Development Bank, Australia and New Zealand, aims to build the largest solar plant in the south Pacific.

Access Science Learning Hub’s extensive resources about electricity, including articles, activities, videos, and interactives.

Earth energy - geothermal

A wide range of resources from GNS Science – Te Pū Ao, including articles, posters, maps, and case studies.

Wind and solar power

In the pursuit of efficient, sustainable energy, the challenge in the 21st century includes harnessing wind and sunlight – both available in abundance in Aotearoa.

Hydroelectricity

In the 20th century New Zealand governments created lakes and diverted rivers so electricity could be generated in large-scale hydro schemes.

NZ is one of the best countries to own an electric vehicle

Electric cars are up to four times better for the environment when being driven in New Zealand than in Australia.

Power from the sun

A Junior Journal article describing the use of solar panels to make electricity and including an example of a school in New Zealand that has been using solar power since 2008.

Renewable energy

This page on Many Answers has links to reviewed websites and databases about renewable energy.

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