Introduction
to Electric Generators
An
electric generator
is a device used to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy.
The
generator
is based on the principle of "electromagnetic induction" discovered in
1831 by Michael Faraday, a British scientist. Faraday discovered that if an
electric conductor, like a copper wire, is moved through a magnetic field,
electric current will flow (be induced) in the conductor.
So the mechanical energy of the moving wire is converted into the electric
energy of the current that flows in the wire.
The
animation below shows a simple electric generator. In the animation, the
mechanical energy needed to turn the generator comes from the brown hand crank
at the front of the generator. In a hydroelectric power plant, the mechanical
energy to turn the generator comes from the water turbine, which is turned by
the force of falling water. The hand crank in the animation causes the red wire
to spin inside a magnetic field (the blue lines). As Faraday learned, moving the
wire through the magnetic field causes electric current to flow in the wire. The
turning red wire is connected to a volt meter, which shows the amount of
electric current that is produced. In a hydroelectric plant, the generator is
connected to transmission lines that deliver the electricity to your home or
business.
The
controls on the animation allow you to control the speed and direction of the
generator and turn portions of the animation on and off for greater clarity. You
can also use the radio buttons to show a direct current, or DC generator (with
commutator) or an alternating current, or AC generator (without commutator).
Wooden generator is a simple
electric generator designed by ScienceProject. The
materials for making a wooden generator are now being offered by
MiniScience.
- Introduction to electric generators
- History of electric generators
- Parts of an electric generator
- How to make an electric generator?
- Simple electric generator
- Electric generator for science fair project
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