An electric conductor such as copper wire moving through a magnetic field, electric current will flow, through the conductor. The moving wire’s mechanical energy is converted into electrical energy, when a magnet is moved in a coil of wire, electric current is generated.
A generator is basically created by a mechanical force that turns a conductive wire or bar within a magnetic field. The force used to spin the conductive object can be provided by many sources, such as moving water, steam, wind, gas engine or even hand-cranked levers.