 Electrodynamic tethers are long conducting wires, such as one deployed from a tether satellite, which can operate on electromagnetic principles as generators, by converting their kinetic energy to electric energy, or as motors, converting electric energy to kinetic energy.Electric potential is generated across a conductive tether by its motion through the Earth's magnetic field.The choice of the metal conductor to be used in an electrodynamic tether is determined by a variety of factors.