eli5 how does a generator spinning make electricity.

595 viewsOtherPlanetary Science

So I was on a train and got curious how waterwheels and wind turbines and everything of the sort make electricity so like any normal person would I searched it up. And on google I kid you not all the responses were “it spins the generator making electricity” like what am I dumb or does to at make no sence and explains nothing please help.

In: Planetary Science

9 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

To make it super super simple:

When you move a magnet along a conducting object (like a metal wire) the magnetism forcefully moves electrons inside the metal. This movement of electrons is what we call “electricity”

A generator works by spinning either the magnets or the metal wires. Doing this with ALOT of wires and some STRONG magnets makes it so you can generate alot of electricity, because the magnets force alot of electrons to move

If the thing moves because you are putting electricity into it, it is a Motor, being “driven” by electricity.

If the thing moves and electricity comes out, it is a generator.

A motor can be a generator, it literally just depends on whether electricity goes in or out.

You are viewing 1 out of 9 answers, click here to view all answers.