Do Generators Run Out of Electrons?

[Jarfi]

So, when you generate electricity, you spin a magnet pushing the electrons in the surrounding wires and creating a stream of electrons, now the confusion... If you do this for some time, wouldn't the electrons in the wires run out? I mean there is only a certain number of loose electrons on the copper atoms in the wires, and when the magnetic force field pushes those electrons away to local house holds, how do electrons keep coming out of the wire generating electricity??

I also know that the electrons jump from atom to atom pushing the other electron forward, but than the electrons in the back would still always run out until all the copper atoms had a negative charge... anybody care to elaborate what is going on?

 

[jedishrfu]

you should think of the generator more like a pump pumping water. yeah it pushes electrons out only if there are more electrons coming from the other wire-end. The electrons are circulating through the electrical circuit. No circuit, no circulation, no loss of electrons.

 

[the_emi_guy]

There is more than one wire going into your houseshold. You can think of electrons moving into your house on one wire and leaving your house on the other wire (this is painfully oversimplified in order to amplify the concept that I think you need). An electric circuit consists of a closed loop. A good analogy for beginners is to think of a water pump pumping water through hoses to a "water motor". There must be a hose going from the pump to the motor, and another hose going from the motor back to the pump. The pump both pushes the water toward the pump, and pulls it back from the pump.

Edit: jedishrfu, looks like we posted simultaneously the same answer!

 

[Jarfi]

There is more than one wire going into your houseshold. You can think of electrons moving into your house on one wire and leaving your house on the other wire (this is painfully oversimplified in order to amplify the concept that I think you need). An electric circuit consists of a closed loop. A good analogy for beginners is to think of a water pump pumping water through hoses to a "water motor". There must be a hose going from the pump to the motor, and another hose going from the motor back to the pump. The pump both pushes the water toward the pump, and pulls it back from the pump.

Edit: jedishrfu, looks like we posted simultaneously the same answer!

Now I understand, a quite simple thing, made me feel a lot better, thanks:D

 

[PJC01]

When it comes to generators, it's important to understand the concept of conservation of energy. This principle states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred from one form to another. In the case of electricity, the energy is being transferred from mechanical energy (the spinning magnet) to electrical energy (the flow of electrons).

The confusion may stem from the idea that the electrons are being used up or depleted in the process. However, this is not the case. The electrons in the wires are constantly moving and can be thought of as a continuous flow, much like a river. The spinning magnet is simply pushing this flow of electrons along, creating a stream of electricity.

To address the concern about the electrons running out, it's important to understand the concept of current. Current is the rate of flow of electricity, measured in amps. In a closed circuit, the flow of electrons is continuous, meaning that as long as the circuit is complete, the electrons will continue to flow.

So, when a generator is in use, the electrons are not being used up or depleted, they are simply being pushed along by the spinning magnet. This process can continue indefinitely as long as the generator is functioning and the circuit remains closed.

It's also important to note that generators do not create new electrons. The electrons that are being pushed along are already present in the wires and are simply being transferred from one atom to another.

In summary, generators work by transferring energy from one form to another, and the flow of electrons in a closed circuit is continuous. The electrons are not being used up or depleted, they are simply being pushed along by the spinning magnet. I hope this helps to clarify any confusion you may have had about generators.