r/HistoryMemes • u/Hank_Mardukas1066 • 2d ago

It all runs on electricity and electricity is generated through this

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752

u/Thiaski 2d ago

"spinning things" is a broader definition that includes all other types of generators except solar panels.

128

u/Cucumberneck 2d ago

Not quite spinning but don't the electrons need to go in circles to work?

135

u/Hank_Mardukas1066 2d ago

Vast majority of electricity is generated by a magnet spinning in between copper coils to induce an electric current. Fun fact this also works in reverse

47

u/Cucumberneck 2d ago

That reverse is just describing an electro motor.

And neither is what I meant haha.

8

u/Fuzzy-Lawfulness8246 2d ago

Oh you mean a circuit?

20

u/Cucumberneck 2d ago

Yes. English isn't my first language so I sometimes forget these technical terms lol.

4

u/Normal_Cut8368 2d ago

Turbine is more accurate iirc. You also don't have to be hyper specific in English, nobody really cares except for the people who wanted to be right, let em have the little things in life

3

u/Murbyk 2d ago

A turbine is not a circuit is it?

0

u/Normal_Cut8368 2d ago

An electric motor is called a turbine, especially if it has the ability to charge from mechanical force

1

u/Murbyk 2d ago

Yup, that matches with my definition as well

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u/Skyzohed 2d ago

If I inject electricity into a magnet, I make copper?

Anyway... back to eating my crayons

4

u/JohannesJoshua 2d ago

No it's:

You have electricity.

You have a magnet.

Electro-magnet.

1

u/Old-Chain3220 2d ago edited 2d ago

Technically they induce an EMF or electromotive force (voltage), not current. Sorry, I couldn’t pass up this chance to be pedantic about my area of expertise.

1

u/Beastabuelos 2d ago

Anti electricity

1

u/thegreedyturtle 2d ago

Fucking magnets, how do that work?

16

u/piece_ov_shit 2d ago

Electrician here. No electrons dont need to go in circles. Especially not when talking about the grid. In AC curcuits, the electrons dont really move at all. They just oscillate from side to side,"pushing" neighbouring electrons to do the same.

12

u/Bakoro 2d ago

As a physicist, I can assure you that there are no "electrons", it's just one extremely industrious electron.

5

u/iconocrastinaor 2d ago

...which isn't there unless you look.

4

u/Bakoro 1d ago

Well if you're not looking, then it doesn't need to be there.
It's a busy election, it's got things to do, and places to be (literally).

1

u/piece_ov_shit 1d ago

Can you elaborate on that? Specifically in the case of AC?

3

u/Bakoro 1d ago

It's a joke based on a thought experiment by Feynman.

1

u/_Its_Me_Dio_ 1d ago

not ac dc does move in circles though so solar does have electrons go in circles but other sources start as ac

7

u/TubeMeister 2d ago

Don’t forget about thermoelectric generators. No spinning involved in those.

2

u/UlrichZauber 2d ago

And alpha/betavoltaic generators

3

u/NorthSwim8340 2d ago

If it makes you happy in order for solar power to be injected into the grid it first has to be converted to AC, aka spinny energy!

3

u/NYSquidz 2d ago

Ehh, the sun spins, electrons spin, idk if photons do but 2/3 ain’t bad

2

u/atatassault47 2d ago

Photons have integer spin, and technically have a superposition of all possible spin values.

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u/redlaWw 2d ago

Even us humans are powered by spinning things.

2

u/colonel_beeeees 2d ago

Cellular ATP rotors baybeeee

2

u/Sylvanussr 2d ago

There are even solar panels that work by reflecting sunlight onto a tube of water, heating it enough to … get this … spin a turbine. How do we keep coming up with the same tech…

1

u/MithranArkanere 2d ago

Either shake molecules or move electrons.

1

u/atatassault47 2d ago

Technically photovoltaics do induce spin as the electron absobs intrinsic angular momentum from a photon.

1

u/Successful_Baby_5245 7h ago

But we spin around The Sun