An electric generator is a device that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy for use in an external circuit. It accomplishes this by utilizing various sources of mechanical energy, such as steam turbines, gas turbines, water turbines, and internal combustion engines, to produce electric power. The generator consists of a rotating part (rotor) and a stationary part (stator) that form a magnetic circuit. As the rotor rotates, it induces an electric current in the wire coils, which then becomes the output electric current supplied by the generator.
Generators do not create electricity; instead, they use the mechanical energy supplied to them to force the movement of electric charges through an external electric circuit, thereby generating electric current. The modern-day generators work on the principle of electromagnetic induction, discovered by Michael Faraday, which involves moving an electrical conductor in a magnetic field to create a voltage difference and induce the flow of electric charges, thus generating electric current.
In summary, an electric generator is a crucial device in electricity generation, converting mechanical energy into electrical energy for various applications, including powering electric grids, automobiles, aircraft, ships, and trains.
