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Electromagnetism

Using a Simple Motor as a Generator.

If a simple motor is turned to produce electricity,
the split - ring commutator will change the current direction
every half turn. Instead of generating
alternating current (see the previous page) the current
is kept positive giving the output shown below.

Current from a Motor used as a Generator

Compare this with the output shown for direct current
and you will see that the two are different.
Direct current from a cell shows a smooth unchanging output.
The output shown above is similar to direct current
because the current only flows in one direction.
It looks similar to alternating current because the
current rises from zero to maximum and
back again to zero but it is not alternating current
because the current does not go backwards.

This type of output can be made more like ordinary
direct current by using a capacitor to "smooth out the humps".

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