Final answer:
The primary difference between an electric motor and an electric generator is the direction of energy conversion.
Step-by-step explanation:
The primary difference between an electric motor and an electric generator is the direction of energy conversion. An electric motor converts electrical energy into mechanical energy, while an electric generator converts mechanical energy into electrical energy.
In an electric motor, electric current flows through a wire coil that creates a magnetic field. This magnetic field interacts with the magnetic field of a fixed magnet, causing the wire coil to spin and generate mechanical energy.
In contrast, an electric generator uses mechanical energy, such as the rotation of a turbine, to move a wire coil within a magnetic field. This movement induces an electric current in the wire coil, generating electrical energy.
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