Transformers vs. motors vs. generators?

Question

What are the basic differences? What are the basic similarities? I'm think along the lines of something as simple as a motor takes some kind of energy and turns it into mechanical energy. And transformers transfer a current from one circuit to another... I can't find anything much more detailed than that in the review books I'm using. I'm studying for a general science standardized test, and I don't remember ever learning about this in physics...

Answer 1

It is fairly basic. Generator means that something is generated, in this case it is electricity, the generator can be driven by water power or by mechanical means such as a fuel burning engine, some are driven by wind power. An electric motor is a mechanical device that is driven by electricity. A transformer has no moving parts, induction is used to step up, or step down voltage, it can't be used to increase current, if voltage is doubled by a transformer the amount of current available is halved. I hope this has helped.

Answer 2

A motor is a form of rotating machinery that takes electrical energy and converts it to mechanical energy in the form of a rotating shaft.  Electrical energy is in the form of AC or DC voltage and power, depending on the motor design.

A electrical generator is a form of rotating machinery that takes mechanical energy in the form of a rotating shaft and converts it to electrical energy, either AC or DC depending on design.

I use the term "electrical generator" because there are many other uses of the word generator.

Depending on design, sometimes the two are interchangeable, that is, a rotating machine can function either as a motor or as an electrical generator, depending on the mechanical load and electrical load applied.

A transformer is a stationary machine that takes AC power at a specified voltage and converts it to power at a different voltage. A transformer does not generate power, the E x I product of the input (primary side) is always larger than the E x I product of the output (secondary side). So for example, You can supply 120 volts at 100 amps to the primary and get 1200 volts at 9.9 amps on the secondary.