What are the two most common ways to produce electricity?

The two most common ways to produce electricity are magnetism and chemical action.

Magnetism is at the core of electromagnetic generation, which harnesses mechanical energy – typically from rotating turbines – to induce an electric current in a conductor through magnetic fields. This principle is evident in power plants that utilize generators driven by wind, water, or steam, where the motion of a magnetic field relative to coils of wire creates electricity.

Chemical action refers to the process where chemical reactions generate electrical energy, as seen in batteries. In these devices, chemical compounds undergo reactions that release electrons, allowing electric current to flow.

Understanding these two methods underscores the fundamental principles in both renewable energy and battery technologies, which are crucial for modern electrical production and storage. Other methods listed, like friction or solely depending on thermal energy without the context of magnetism, lack the widespread application or efficiency seen with the dominant techniques of magnetism and chemical processes.