National grid

• How do fossil fuels and nuclear power stations work

  Fossil fuels and nuclear power stations generate thermal energy

  This is used to turn water into steam which rises and turns turbines

  Kinetic energy of the turbines can be converted to electrical energy using a generator

  The electricity is then sent out across the national grid
• National grid

  Network of transformers, pylons and wires that link power stations to consumers
• What do step-up transformers do

  Used to increase the voltage and decrease electricity
• What do step-down transformers do

  Decrease the voltage and increase the current of electricity
• To minimise energy loss

  Current should be as low as possible.

  High currents cause the wire to heat up, meaning that more energy is lost as heat
• Voltage of electricity transmitted across the national grid

  ~ 400k volts