The starter wakes up your car. The work of the starter system begins with the placing of the ignition key into the ignition switch (which is usually located next to the steering column) and turning it to switch on the ignition.
Turning this key connects up the power from the battery to what is called the solenoid. The solenoid is a switch (rather in the same way that a light switch lets the electricity through to a light). The solenoid allows electricity to move through to the starter and wakes it up with a jolt.
You won't get too far without a properly working electrical system! The electrical system of the car provides the flow of electricity to all those points in the car that need electricity to function. As we have seen the battery provides the power to start the starter. It also provides the power to the distributor that is then sent to the spark plugs, creating the spark that enables the combustion process to occur in the engine cylinder.
When the battery sends electrons out into the car, it is actually discharging itself. The battery is getting rid of its own power by this process.
Luckily, the 12 volt battery in the car is rechargeable. It is recharged by the alternator.
The alternator contains a magnet that is capable of receiving mechanical force from the engine and converting it back into electrical force, creating a new flow of electrons. The alternator directs and forces these electrons back to the battery so that the battery can re-charge itself. In this respect the alternator is functioning as a generator, or more accurately re-generating the flow of electricity, which is called a current.