Hand Crank Generator (Circuits Lab)

The hand crank generator works because of the right hand rule. The hand crank exerts a force on the electrons in the wire perpendicular to the magnetic field lines produced by the magnets. By the right hand rule, this interaction generates a current in the wire perpendicular to both the force and field lines, i.e. down the length of the wire. This current, when forced through the light bulb's filament, generates light.