and electrons. An electron has what is
called a negative charge. A proton has a
positive charge. Positive and negative
charges try to move close together. However,
two positive charges, or two negative
charges, will push each other away.
Electricity results when electrons are
pushed and pulled from atom to atom.
Static Electricity
The electrons can be moved by actually
rubbing one object against another. This
creates something called static electricity.
Static electricity explains why rubbing a
balloon against one’s hair can make the
hair stand on end. The electrons move
from the balloon to the hair. Because the
hairs then all have the same kind of
charge, they try to fly away from each
other.
Generating Electricity
Many moving electrons are called an
electric current. A city’s power plant
Electricity in the form of lightning brightens
the sky above a city.
120 Electricity BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA
produces a powerful electric current and
sends it through wires. The electricity
used for lighting, heating, and running
appliances is made by machines called
generators. Generators cause a current to
flow by moving a magnet past a coil of
wire.
Wires then carry the current to houses
and other buildings. More wires connect
to the power outlets in rooms. When a
person plugs in an iron, hair dryer, or
another electric device, the current travels
into the device. The current then
makes the device work. A chemical reaction
in a battery can also produce an
electric current.
History
The ancient Greeks were the first to
study electric forces. In the American
colonies during the 1700s, Benjamin
Franklin performed experiments that
proved that lightning is a form of electricity.
Scientists later learned that electricity
is related to magnetism. They
then learned how to generate electricity
using magnets.
#More to explore
Atom • Battery • Energy • Magnet and
Magnetism
Electronic Games
Electronic games are games run by
computer technology. They are also
called video games. People play
electronic games on personal
computers, in video arcades, and on
home electronic game systems. The
home systems are called consoles.
Console games are played using a
handheld device usually connected to a
television. People may play electronic
games alone or with others.
How Electronic GamesWork
All electronic games begin as computer
instructions called software. A computer
Static electricity makes a child’s
hair stand on end.
Some electronic games are small and can
be held in the hand.
BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Electronic Games 121
programmer writes the software commands
to make the game run. The game
software is then loaded onto
hardware—a computer or a console.
Inside the computer or the console,
hardware and software work together to
send electronic signals through the system.
These signals create the game’s
sounds and images. The player controls
the action of the game using a paddle, a
joystick, or a keypad.
History
Electronic games began as very simple
programs with poor graphics and no
sound. A man named William A. Higinbotham
created one of the first electronic
games, called Tennis for Two, in
1958.
The first arcade game, called Computer
Space, came out in 1971. More successful
arcade games soon followed—for
example, Pong, Space Invaders, and Pac-
Man. The first electronic game system
for home use appeared at about the
same time.
In 1977 a company called Atari released
a home system with removable cartridges.
Each cartridge held a different
game.With this system electronic games
grew in popularity. But people wanted
better graphics and sound.
Seeing the demand, many other companies
began developing home electronic
games as well. The quality of the games’
sound and images steadily improved.
The technology used to run the games
also improved.
Nintendo was the first company to provide
a keypad with its consoles rather
than just a joystick. Today Nintendo,
Sony, and Microsoft are some of the
leading makers of electronic games and
game systems.
Game companies continue to add new
features to their games. Some systems
now let players play together over telephone
lines. Electronic gaming has
become one of the most popular forms
of entertainment in the world.
#More to explore
Computer • Electronics
Electronics
Electronics is a branch of the science
called physics. It explains how electricity
can be used to carry or process information.
Many products are based on electronics.
They include computers, digital
cameras, radios, television sets, wireless
telephones, and video games. Often
these products themselves are called electronics.
Electric Signals
Electronic products contain devices that
control the flow of electricity. A flow of
electricity is called an electric current.
Changes in electric currents create electric
signals. Electric signals can provide
different kinds of information. For
example, electric signals in a radio provide
sound.
Many electronic products use electric
signals to provide information as a number
code. These products are called digi-
Other early
arcade video
games that
were popular
include Ms.
Pac-Man,
Donkey Kong,
Centipede,
Asteroids, and
Frogger.
