Hwange Power Plant. Image credit chronicle.co.zw
ZIMSEC O Level Combined Science Notes: Introduction:Motors and generators
- Due to their nature batteries and cells produce a limited amount of electrical power
- A lot of the electricity used in homes and industries comes from generators
- Generators convert kinetic energy into electrical energy
- There are various types of generators
- For example:
- At Kariba water is used to turn turbines which produces the motion required to produce electricity
- At Hwange thermal energy from coal is used to produce steam which turns the turbines
- At Koeberg Nuclear Power Station in South Africa nuclear power produces steam to power turbines
- Geothermal power is also used to generate electricity
- Wind is used to turn turbines and produce electricity
- Petrol and Diesel generators burn fuel to generate electricity
- The generation of electrical energy from kinetic energy is a result of electromagnetic induction
- When the turbines are turned in all these cases
- They rotate a coil of conducting wire in a magnetic field
- This movement of the coil inside a magnetic field makes current flow inside the coil
- Electric Motors convert electrical energy into kinetic energy
- They are found in various household and industrial devices
- For example grinding mills, fridge compressors, cars etc
To access more topics go to the Combined Science Notes page.
