Electric motor

The electric motor is a device that converts electrical energy to mechanical energy.

Parts of an Electric Motor

• Insulated Copper wire: A rectangular coil of wire.
• Magnet Poles: A magnet as placed above, i.e. the North Pole and the South Pole. This creates a magnetic field, as shown above.
• Split Rings: Two disjoint C-shaped rings. It acts as a commutator (which can reverse the direction of current)
• Axle: The split rings are placed on the axle which can rotate freely.
• Brushes: The outside of the split rings are connected to conducting brushes X and Y.
• Source Battery: To source current.

The principle of an electric motor:

The electric motor works on the principle of force experienced by a current-carrying conductor in a magnetic field.
Two forces of equal magnitude act in the opposite direction on the two parallel sides of the coil. Since they act along different lines, they cause rotational motion.

Applications

• Electric Fans
• Refrigerators
• Mixers
• Washing machines