How an alternator works

Ever wondered how an alternator works?
An alternator is a device that converts mechanical energy to electrical energy in form of AC current.
The alternator is what supplies the whole car with electricity. Did you think it was the battery? No. The job the battery does is to start the engine. Once the engine starts, the alternator takes over from the battery.
Electricity is produced in an alternator through electromagnetic induction.
The alternator has 3 main parts.
- stator : it is a stationary part in the alternator in which the rotor revolves, it consist of copper wires.
- rotor : it is the moving part of the alternator, it is like a long rod coated with magnet.
- Diode : it converts the AC current generated by the alternator to a DC current that can be used by the car.
When the alternator belt rotates the pulley on the alternator, the rotor which is made of magnet rotates very fast inside the stator and electricity is produced.
The alternator helps the engine by providing electricity for the spark plugs and the engine helps the alternator by rotating it.

How a jet engine works

Ever wondered how a jet engine operates?
A jet engine works according to Newtons third law of motion : for every action, there is equal and opposite reaction.
A jet engine creates forward thrust by taking in large amount of air and discharging it at a high speed jet of gases.

- air is drawn into the engine by a fan located in front of the engine
- the air is drawn into the compressor which has blade like wings and spins fast and thereby makes it a high pressure gas
- fuel is injected into the gas and ignited
- the burning gas expand and blast out through the nozzle at the back of the engine.
The hot air leaving the engine is twice the speed of cold air entering it at the front.