Difference Between Motor and Generator for JEE Main 2024

Power generators are the most common machine generating power for most power networks in cities. They are ubiquitous and their importance can hardly be underestimated.

Power generators are one of the most essential tools in modern life. These machines convert mechanical energy into electrical energy which can then be stored in batteries or supplied directly where it is needed.

Let us see some areas around our everyday life where the power generator keeps working. Small versions of these machines serve as a good backup for emergency power needs in households or small businesses. When a new construction site is established, before the power is set up, electric generators are used extensively. Huge diesel generators are often taken to construction sites to support the machinery, trailers, ventilation, water pumps, and also security. The portable versions of power table saws, grinders, drills, and other power tools are used in construction. Generators drive motors – which would mean the traffic in a city is full of generators in action.

The most common use of generators is their use in emergencies. These are a must for disaster preparedness. They are used in natural disasters, like a hurricane when the power lines of the city are down for days. Then the generator steps in to provide for essential uses and also saves lives (as in hospitals). During extreme weather conditions, a generator is used to power up essential life-saving devices like a space heater during a blizzard.

Power outages happen. They are routine and for such times a high-capacity standby backup generator helps life go on. In countries like India where power outages are not uncommon, generators are the go-to backup for offices and institutions. Since commercial bodies or institutions have much more at stake, they make sure a generator or even more than one is always at hand. The presence of a working generator ensures a virtually uninterrupted supply of power. Hospitals are mandated to have a generator with UPS (uninterrupted power supply) as even a second of power interruption can mean life or death.

Indian households use inverter generators and UPS because they are silent, get to work the moment power fails and the power supply becomes uninterrupted.

Much like construction sites, mining areas are primitive locations that depend on generators for power supply. About 70% of the electricity used in the mining industry comes from generators. Generators power up powers shovels, drills, excavators, and light up deep underground tunnels.

Generators are also popular in agriculture and farming as they can supply power hard to reach and remote areas in farming.

Temporary gatherings, whether big or small, need a temporary power supply. Here also generators come in handy and they are used to light up fairs, sporting events, carnivals, weddings, and festival gatherings.

Electric Motor and Generator

An electric motor converts electrical energy into mechanical or kinetic energy, whereas the electric generator transforms electric energy into mechanical/kinetic energy.

How can we compare and contrast motors and generators? We can do this by comparing them based on energy conversion.

Switching on the button of the fan or the AC button, and getting cool air during summers has the role of motors. Getting electricity supply during power off is possible because of generators.

In this article, we will learn to differentiate between electric motors and generators.

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The Difference between Electric Motor and Electric Generator in Tabular Form

If we were to ask anything common between the electric motor and the electric generator, the similarities are as follows:

• Both have magnetic field lines.

• Both have armature coil placed between the magnetic poles viz: North and the South pole.

• Both have carbon pressures.

• Both have two brushes viz: b1 and b2.

Now, let’s understand Fleming’s right-hand rule and Fleming’s left-hand rule to distinguish between the electric motor and electric generator.

Fleming’s Left-Hand Rule in Electric Motor

We know that motors convert electrical energy into mechanical energy and how this transformation occurs is a really interesting phenomenon. The force by which the motion occurs, can be better explained with the help of Fleming’s left-hand rule, and the statement for the same is as follows:

The electric and the magnetic field existing in electric motors lead to the motion of the armature coil. Now, let’s stretch our forefinger, middle finger, and thumb in such a way that they lie perpendicular to each other, as you can see below:

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So, the forefinger reflects the direction of the magnetic field, the middle finger points the direction of the current and the thumb represents the direction of motion of the armature coil of the motor.

Fleming’s Right-Hand Rule in Electric Generator

We know that the electric generator generates electricity. The direction of the induced current can be easily understood by using Fleming’s right-hand rule. The statement for the same is as follows:

When a current-current conductor is attached to the circuit, it starts moving in a magnetic field. So, Fleming’s right-hand rule gives the direction of the flow of current.

The statement says when we stretch the index finger, middle finger, and thumb in such a way that they lie perpendicular to each other, then the index finger represents the direction of the magnetic field, the thumb points to the direction of motion of the conductor, and the middle finger reflects the direction of induced current.

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In day-to-day life, we can observe the working of an electric motor and the electric generator and then differentiate between electric motor and generator. So, let’s see one example for each to understand this differentiation.

Difference between Electric Motor and Electric Generator

We find motors in electric fans, so when we switch on the button, the far starts moving. The energy by which it makes rotational motion is kinetic, and kinetic energy is nothing but mechanical energy. So, electric motors transform electric energy into mechanical energy.

When we rotate the arm of the generator, the electricity is supplied to the house. So, what we are doing is, we supplied mechanical energy to the generator and that energy transforms into electrical energy, which we utilize in switching on the fan and other electrical appliances during the electricity cut at home.