Consider the following statements: Statement I: An electric motor converts electrical energy into mechanical energy. Statement II: An electric generator converts mechanical energy into electrical energy. Statement III: Both electric motor and generator work on the same principle. Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?

Official answer key: C. The answer shown above (D) is the academy’s own.

Electric motor

• An electrical device that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy is known as an electric motor.
• Hence statement I is correct.
• The majority of electric motors generate force in the form of torque that is applied to the motor's shaft through the interaction of the motor's magnetic field and electric current in a wire winding.
• Mechanically, an electric generator is the same as an electric motor, but it uses a different power flow to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy.

Electric Generator

• A generator is a device that converts fuel-based power (chemical energy) or motive power (mechanical energy) into electric power for use in an external circuit in electricity generation.
• Hence statement II is correct.
• Steam turbines, gas turbines, water turbines, internal combustion engines, wind turbines, and even hand cranks are all examples of mechanical energy sources.
• The principal electromagnetic generator, the Faraday circle, was created in 1831 by English researcher Michael Faraday.
• Electric power grids rely almost entirely on generators.