Electric Generator

While motors transform electrical energy into mechanical motion, generators convert that same push of mechanical motion into electrical energy. In this exhibit, a central disk with multiple magnet-tipped arms forms the rotor of a generator. The visitor turns a handle to spin the rotor, causing the magnet-tipped arms to swing past an array of fixed electromagnetic coils mounted around the perimeter of the exhibit. As the magnet-tipped arms of the rotor pass the electromagnets, electricity is generated in the coils. LEDs at each coil light up to show when it is producing power. The visitor can also see the electricity produced by switching on a light bulb and/or fan connected to the generator.