Electricity: Cutting the cords
by Kathiann Kowalski
9:53am, May 9, 2014
Pre- reading Question:
· List all the electronic devises you have in your home that require batteries.
Annotate as you read. Circle ALL words that relate to this unit.
Batteries let us live life on the go. They power the laptops, smart phones, handheld games and music players that we take with us everywhere. Yet no matter where we take our favorite electronic gadgets, they eventually end up in the same place: plugged into an outlet to recharge.
That is changing. Batteries will always need recharging. But two new technologies will free us from the tangle of cords and plugs. They will make recharging a snap, even on the go.
Wireless electricity is the first of those technologies. Electric toothbrushes and some smart phones already rely on this technology. To recharge the devices, just place them on a special base or pad. Some electric car models can also recharge using wireless electricity while parked in their garages. Even more exciting are experimental vehicles that can recharge on the road, thanks to electronics buried under part of the roadway. That technological advance could eliminate two big downsides to electric vehicles: the worry about running out of power and the wait to recharge drained batteries.
Energy harvesting is the second technology. It could help us go truly cord-free. Energy harvesting taps into energy that’s already moving through our surroundings. The technology grabs that energy in the form of radio waves and microwaves and converts it to electricity. That power could run small gadgets and maybe even larger household appliances. Devices could charge themselves without our ever doing a thing.
Together, these technologies would free us from the bother of plugging in all our electronics. They also could cut waste and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Change is coming, but it won’t happen overnight. Taking full advantage of the promise of wireless electricity and energy harvesting will take much more research, as well as time and money.
Questions:
1. Summarize the main points of this article (3-4 sentences).
2. How does this article relate to what we are learning in class?
3. List 2 things you learned from this article.
4. Describe one electronic device that you would love to be able to use this new technology with. In your description: Name the device, explain why you chose that device and how this technology would make your life easier.