Technology has aided us in producing electricity in huge amounts and from many energy sources. Electricity has changed our lives and we are dependent on it each moment of our day. When weather or some event prevents the flow of electricity into our homes and businesses, we are at a standstill and unable to function except in an emergency atmosphere. Electricity has provided us with a much higher standard of living. With the many benefits from electricity comes the responsibility to use electricity wisely and safely.
Electric charge is both negative and positive.
In the atom, electrons having a negative charge are outside the nucleus which contains protons having a positive charge. Electricity is a flow of negatively charged electrons. While understanding the properties of magnets can help in the understanding of electricity, magnetic poles and electric charges are different things. They happen to obey similar rules for repelling and attracting, but they are different. To understand the difference, think of apples and oranges.