Question

What is the basic difference between an electric motor and an electric generator

Answer 1

In terms of energy transfer
- Electric motor: Electrical → Mechanical
- Electric Generator: Mechanical → Electrical

An electric motor is used to produce rotational motion from an electrical supply. In a motor an electric current is passed through the coil. The coil then creates a magnetic field that interacts with the already existing magnetic field. This interaction forces the coil to rotate.
 ⇒ For a motor the input energy is electrical energy and the useful output energy is mechanical energy.

The generator is used to produce an electric current from rotational motion (on large scale power stations a turbine is used to provide this rotation). In a generator the rotation causes the coil to rotate inside the magnetic field.* This induces an alternating current in the coil.

⇒ For a generator the input energy is mechanical energy and the useful output energy is electrical energy.

Answer 2

The main difference between the two is that the Motor is an electric device which converts electrical energy into mechanical energy. The generator is vice versa of that motor. It converts mechanical energy into electrical energy.