• Question: how is electricity made from heat?

    Asked by bradayre to Anil, Blanka, Cees, Emma, Mike on 4 Jul 2012.
    • Photo: Emma Trantham

      Emma Trantham answered on 4 Jul 2012:

      I think the most common way to make electricity from heat is to use the heat to heat up water.
      The water turns into steam and the steam is used to drive a turbine (think of it as being like a water wheel for steam). The turbine is connected to a generator and this makes electricity (I’m a bit hazy as to how this last step actually happens!)

      Perhaps one of the other scientists will have a better answer?

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