This (Quicktime) animation shows the basic operation of an a.c. generator. It shows that the operation is based on Faraday's Law so that the emf produced results from the change in flux through the coil as it rotates. It shows also that the magnitude of the emf depends on the angular velocity of the coil. Download the animation (11.3MB).

This animation was obtained from the "Core Concepts in Physics" CD-ROM produced by Saunders College Publishing. They are to be used for Educational Purposes only; do not copy.