Final answer:
To generate electricity, steam is used to drive a turbine connected to a generator. Steam can be produced by burning coal or using renewable sources like geothermal or solar energy.
Step-by-step explanation:
To generate electricity, steam can be used to drive a turbine which is connected to a generator. The steam is typically produced by burning coal, oil, or natural gas, or by using renewable sources such as geothermal or solar energy.
When coal is burned, the heat produced turns water into steam. The steam then impacts the turbine blades, causing the turbine to spin. The spinning turbine generates electrical energy in the generator connected to it.
Similarly, in a solar electric generating system, sunlight is concentrated onto a blackened pipe containing a fluid. The heated fluid is then used to generate steam, which drives the turbine and produces electricity.