1. Generating Electricity
A generator produces electricity. It DOES NOT create energy. Energy can not be created or destroyed, it just changes form!
A generator changes mechanical energy into electrical energy.

2. Generating Electricity
3. Parts of a Generator
U shaped magnet
Coil of copper wire
If you rotate the wire inside the magnet, or
rotate the magnet around the wire coil, it
causes the electrons in the wire to move.
(Electricity is the flow of electrons). This
causes an electric current.

3. Generating Electricity
5. To make a stronger electric current, you:
Get a bigger (stronger) magnet
Get a bigger coil of copper wire
Make the magnet or coil spin faster

4. Generating Electricity
Power Plants
All power plants produce electricity with a generator.
Power plants have a turbine that is connected to the generator. When the turbine is turned, it causes the wire loop in the generator to turn. This makes an electric current.

5. Turbine & Generator

6. Turbine & Generator

7. Generating Electricity
The turbine in a power plant can be turned in several ways:
Wind
The turbine is placed directly in the wind (Wind Power).

8. Wind Power

9. Generating Electricity
b. Water
The turbine is placed in a river (hydropower) or in the ocean (tidal).

10. Hydropower

11. Tidal Power

12. Generating Electricity
c. Steam
Materials are burned to heat water into steam. (coal, natural gas, oil, and biomass.)

13. Fossil Fuel Power Plant

14. Biomass conversion

15. Generating Electricity
c. Steam
nuclear reactions or the sun create heat to turn water into steam. (nuclear, solar)

16. Nuclear Power

17. Solar Power Plant

18. Solar Power