How does a dynamo convert mechanical energy into electrical energy?

A dynamo converts mechanical energy into electrical energy by utilizing the principles of electromagnetic induction, a phenomenon discovered by Michael Faraday in 1831.12

Faraday observed that when a conductor, such as a wire or a copper disk, moves through a magnetic field, it cuts across the magnetic "lines of force." This action induces an electromotive force (voltage) within the conductor, causing an electric current to flow.12

In his first dynamo, Faraday demonstrated this by rotating a copper disk between the poles of a powerful magnet. By taking electrical leads from the rim and the center of the disk, he was able to produce a continuous current. The magnitude of the induced current is proportional to the rate at which the conductor cuts these magnetic lines of force. Essentially, the mechanical energy used to rotate the conductor is transformed into electrical energy as the motion forces the magnetic flux to change relative to the circuit.21