How do you produce electricity?

Answer 1

The true answer to this question is that you cannot truly "produce" electricity. Electricity is simply a form of energy and Einstein proved that energy is never created or destroyed, it simply changes form. Electricity is really just the transfer of electrons from the outer shells of atoms that make up electrically conductive materials. The electrons just move from one atom to the next due to the electromagnetic force that draws them there. Power stations don't "produce" electricity either. They simply transform another type of energy into electricomagnetic energy and send it down powerlines to homes and business. Most often this is done by burning coal or other fossil fuels to turn a turbine (similar to an electric motor running backwards, but much larger) which causes electrons to flow, thus turning the energy from burning fuels into electricity. A hydro-electric dam channels water flow into controlled tunnels that run past huge electric turbines. The water turns the blades of the turbines which causes a changing magnetic field, causing electricity to flow.