text: can anybody explain the physics behind how a generator works?   any electrical conductor moving in a magnetic field will have a emf induced into the conductor.  using a permanent magnet, rotate a coil of wire (more turns = more length = more emf) in the mag field, rotation provided by muscles or water mill or air flow, and you get emf. trandfer the electricity by slip joints (contacts) from each end of the coil to surrounding stationary wires (contacts), and you have electricity at the contacts. voila!!