Pssst. Hey, smarty pants.
I'm super excited today because today I'm coming to you from inside the top secret laboratory of two scientists who are experts in the field of electricity.
Ooh. In fact, they've conducted lots of experiments with electricity.
But always safely. Electricity is really dangerous, you know.
Yes. Danger. Ah! Ah.
You must pardon my husband.
He likes to make science with emotion.
Right. As I was saying, smarty pants, I'm joined by the electric scientist duo of Gerda and Volker or Frankenzappe.
Am I saying that right?
Frankenzappe? Actually, he's pronounced Fronkenzopen, as in the zopen you will get if you're not Careful with electricity.
Yes. Yes. Soon everyone will know the name Frankensappin.
You're not creating a terrifying monster by any chance.
No, no, nothing like that.
He's just hoping Aussie smarty -ho's and listening they'll remember her names.
Ah, right. They probably will.
We're only a minute in and you're already pretty memorable.
So what are you working on?
Fantastic feats with electric power.
Voker here will demonstrate.
Watch as I flip the switch. I did it!
It's a light. It's a light!
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!
Yes, it is a light.
You turned on the overhead lights.
There appears to be a ceiling fan going too.
Ah, ha ha ha ha ha ha, it worked!
Very good, Volga. But it's just a light.
Everyone has these at home.
Ah, but we also have more than just light.
We also have these slots built into our wall for all kinds of electrical devices.
And if we put these marks with prongs into it, if you light up this rectangle with squares we call apps… cell phone connection sound Hahahahaha!
It works! Umm… you just plugged in your smartphone.
Which is good you're only at 12 % battery but… what's so special about that?
What's so special? I have you no appreciation of the power of… E L E X T R I C T I T Y Whoosh The Franchensoppens do have a point smarty pants.
Just think how much of your life depends on electricity.
But chances are, you don't think too much about it.
What exactly is electricity?
Who discovered it? How does it work?
And is it possible to live without it?
It's time for another whiff of...
Science! Muhaha! ...and history on...
Who's Smarted? Who's Smarted?
Who's Smart? Is it you?
Is it me? Is it science...
Hey, smarty pants, Trusty here with a special mission for all the smarty pants listening, but unlike a top secret mission, this mission requires you to tell everyone.
That's right, your job is to spread the word about Who Smarted, so we can keep growing and bring you awesome new episodes.
To qualify for this mission, let's play a little game.
Who do you know that would love who smarted but doesn't listen to the show?
Is it A, a friend? B, a teacher?
C, a relative like your favorite cousin?
Or D, a neighbor who loves fun facts?
Got someone in mind?
Great. Question two, where and when will you tell this person about who smarted?
Is it A, on a play date, B, at school, C, in the car, or D on the phone?
Pick one, make a plan, stick to it.
And best of all, complete this not so top secret mission.
I'm counting on you smarty pants, the more people you tell, the bigger we grow which means a lot more smarting for you.
Smarty pants, thanks to electricity, you can travel farther, fly higher, and sink deeper.
Electricity cooks your food, heats and cools your home, and powers your games.
Doctors and nurses use electricity to save lives.
And of course, you use electricity to listen to your favorite podcast. Too smart and...
You use electricity for so many things, it's probably hard to imagine life without it.
But get this. Just over 100 years ago, most electrical things didn't exist. Ooh.
So tell me, smarty -pants, when do you think electricity was invented?
About 200 years ago?
300 years ago? Or 500 years ago?
That's a silly question, narrator.
Is it? What do you think, smarty -pants?
It's silly because electricity wasn't invented.
It's part of nature.
In fact, you cannot live without it.
Your body uses electricity to operate your heart, brain, and nervous system.
In fact, your brain produces so much electricity, if we were to screw a light bulb into your head, it could light up.
Let's try. Let's not.
But, Gerda is right when she said electricity has always been a part of nature, and even within your body.
Woah! But what, exactly, is electricity?
Is it a. The flow of charged liquid.
b. The movement of electron particles.
Or c. The release of electrified gas.
Not that gas. Sorry!
Too much liverwurst. Oh boy, anywho, smarty pants, did you guess your answer?
Did you say, B, the movement of electron particles?
If so, you're right.
Ah, but do you know where these particles come from?
Any ideas, smarty pants?
Electrons come from these super duper tiny things that make up everything.
Ah -ha, do you know what those are called, smarty pants?
Go ahead, shout it out.
Did you say atoms? That's right.
Electrons come from atoms!
No, not those atoms. No, no, no, not presidents John and Quincy Adams. Atoms. A -T -O -M -S.
Ah. Basically, everything in the entire universe is made up of atoms. But they're so small, you can fit millions of them onto the head of a pin!
Ah, yes, Bad Fin. We are talking about electricity.
it might help to think of something very, very big, like the solar system.
Ooh. The solar system?
Yes. You see, every atom has something in its center called a nucleus.
Think of the nucleus like the sun. The nucleus is made of tiny, tiny particles called neutrons and protons.
Neutrons have no charge.
Not electric. Protons have a positive charge.
Electric. And then, there are particles called electrons which orbit around the nucleus like planets orbiting the sun. Electrons have a negative charge.
Also electric. So wait.
Positive and negative charges are both electric?
Yes. And the positive protons and negative electrons are attracted to each other which means they are always trying to get one another.
Like a magnet and a piece of metal?
Exactly. If an atom has more protons than electrons, we call it a positive charged atom.
Oooh. If there's more electrons, then it's a negative charged atom.
What if there are an equal number of protons and electrons?
Then the atom is in balance.
Things like glass, plastic, cotton, and wood all have atoms that stay in balance.
Not very electric. It's true.
Electricity does not flow easily through those objects.
But, in other materials, the atom's negative electrons can come loose and begin moving You're just holding a metal fork.
Yes. You see, most metals like this fork are composed of atoms that have electrons that break off and move freely.
This is how electricity moves.
And that is why you should never put a fork next to something that supplies electricity like a wall socket.
You will get a dangerous shock.
Metals like these are known as electrico -conductors.
Okay, but a fork and other metals by themselves are perfectly safe, right?
Correct, my little sir.
So the metals don't make the electricity?
No, valve in turbines and solar panels make some electricity.
Most of the power you use comes from stations called power plants.
Smarty -pants, what is the main ingredient most power plants need to make electricity?
Is it A, lightning, B, fire, or C, water?
Well, just like plants found in nature, most power plants need C, water.
With enough water, I can create immeasurable power.
Volga, no! This is not how we make power.
And it's not immeasurable.
Oh! We measure electricity all the time.
With amps and volts and watts, et cetera.
Sorry about that. Hand me that towel.
Water is a conductor of electricity.
I don't want to get a shock with all these electrical things around me.
So how do you use water to make electricity?
With something called a generator.
Most generators have a turbine which is like a helicopter propeller, a rotating thing with blades.
A power plant moves this turbine.
Sometimes this running water itself, but most times visits gaseous version.
Oh, hey sorry my bad.
Smartypants, what's the gaseous version of water?
That's right, steam.
The steam speeds the turbine, and the movement generates electricity through copper coils and magnets attached to the turbine.
Magnetic forces push the electricity out from the generator through metal power lines, which, as I said before, are electrical conductors.
A big system of power lines and other devices called a grid take the electricity from power plants to your home.
And this is power! I can control millions of lamps!
But don't I control the lights in my home?
How do lamps turn on and off?
Think of it like a drawbridge.
The road leading to the bridge is the electrical conductor like a metal wire.
When you turn off a lamp, would you say the drawbridge is up or down?
Smarty pants, what do you think?
If the drawbridge is up, can you go over it?
Of course not! Electricity will only travel over a connected path.
It must be able to go into your lamp, or TV, or video games, and then be able to go back out.
It's only when it's passing through that your device gets the energy to work.
When you turn off your device or flick the light switch, it's like raising the drawbridge.
Suddenly, there's a break in the electrical conductor, so electricity won't go through it.
So when did people first discover this kind of power?
Was it all thanks to Ben Franklin's experiments with...
Lightning! No no, much simpler than that!
In fact, it's electricity these marzipans can make at home.
Sounds fun! We'll hear all about it right after this quick break.
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Modern parenting is tough But to raise happier and healthier kids, parents need to focus on their well -being, too.
I'm Dr. Laurie Santos, and in the new season of my podcast, The Happiness Lab, I'll be looking at happier parenting.
We'll tackle many of the challenges facing modern parents, from loneliness, to struggles over screen time and technology.
We'll explore research -backed strategies moms and dads can use to achieve more joy and less stress while raising the next generation.
Listen to The Happiness Lab, wherever you get your podcasts.
Now back to who smarted.
Okay smarty pants. Thanks to scientists Geerta and Volker Frankendzapen, we know electricity wasn't invented but rather discovered and studied.
So when do you think that happened?
During the 1800s, the 1700s, earlier or more recent?
You may think because we have all these electrical marvels today that electricity was only discovered.
within the past 200 years.
And yes, scientist Michael Faraday's invention of the electric generator in 1831 did lead to our modern electric world.
But...electricity was well -known by then.
So then, the 1700s?
Nope! In 1752, when Ben Franklin experimented with lightning, Electricity was still nothing new then in fact at that point people had known about electricity for more than two thousand years believe it or not ancient Greek philosophers studied electricity is a certain kind that's a smarty -hosen can make right at home two things first smarty -hosen is smarty pants in german and also they can make electricity at home how simple if you're wearing socks take off your shoes and shuffle your feet over a carpet don't touch anything then tap a friend or family member and you might feel a little zap oh
you can grab a balloon on your head and watch your hair stand up.
In both instances electrons are moving through your body because people are good electrical conductors.
Which is why electricity can be very dangerous.
Yes, but the electricity caused by socks and balloons is harmless.
You know that we call it?
Smarty pants. Is it A static electricity?
B metric electricity?
Or C, Magnetic Electricity?
That's right! It's static electricity.
The Greeks made static electricity by rubbing amber from trees on fire.
And you know what the ancient Greek word for amber is.
What is it? Elektron!
That's where we get the word. Ugh...
ELLECTRICITY! I will now use this power!
to make hundreds of explosions.
Are you making microwave popcorn?
Ha, ha, ha, ha. You want some?
No, I think I'll head home.
I'm feeling zapped.
A big time shout out to Ethan in Modesto, California.
We hear you love Who Smarted, because you're always learning new things that my smarty friend is what we like to hear.
Keep on smarting, buddy.
This episode Electricity was written by Dave Brownout Beaudry and voiced by Jenna High -Voltage Hoban, Shepheel Positively Charged Chastain, and Jerry Colburn.
Technical direction and sound design by Josh Megahertz Hahn who smarted is recorded and mixed at the Relic Room Studios.
Our associate producer is Max Circuitbreaker Komaski.
The theme song is by Brian, Short Circuit Suarez, with lyrics written and performed by Adam Watts Davis.
Who's Smarted was created and produced by Adam Tex Davis and Jerry Colburn.
This has been an Atomic Entertainment production.
Who's smart and who Here?
