Describe how fossil fuels are used to produce electricity, and explain how an electric generator works.
Fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas, and oil are commonly used to produce electricity in power plants. These fossil fuels are burned to produce heat, which in turn creates steam. The steam is then used to drive a turbine connected to an electric generator. As the turbine spins, it causes a series of magnets to rotate inside the generator, creating an electric current. This current is then sent through power lines to homes and businesses to provide electricity.
An electric generator works on the principle of electromagnetic induction, which is the process of generating electricity by moving a loop of wire through a magnetic field. In the case of a generator, the spinning turbine moves the magnets past the coils of wire, creating an alternating current. This alternating current is then converted to a direct current through a system of rectifiers and transformers before being sent out for use.