Sunday, September 3, 2017

Would a generator in vacuum/space provide electricity endlessly?


At it's simplest, electricity generation is achieved by induced voltage due to a changing magnetic field. In a vacuum in the absence of friction, would the initial spin imparted to the rotor of a generator ever come to a halt?



i.e. Would a traditional generator in space generate electricity perpetually (notwithstanding component failure etc)?



Answer



No, because the process of transferring the voltage into a useable form or device will reduce it. In other words, under perfectly idealized conditions (which are impossible), yes it might spin forever, but as soon as you try to use your generator to power a device, you'll slow it down.


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