Nicola Tesla

Electric Motor

Electric Motor

Definition

Electric motor is a device that converts electrical energy to mechanical torque.

In other words, the devices which produce rotational force are known as the
motor. In certain applications, such as in the transportation industry with
traction motors, electric motors can operate in both motoring and generating or
braking modes to also produce electrical energy from mechanical energy.

The working principle of the electric motor mainly depends on the interaction of
magnetic and electric field.The electric motor is mainly classified into two types.
They are the AC motor and the DC motor. The AC motor takes alternating current
as an input, whereas the DC motor takes direct current. The largest of electric
motors are used for ship propulsion, pipeline compression and pumped-storage
applications with ratings reaching 100 megawatts. Electric motors may be
classified by electric power source type, internal construction, application, type
of motion output, and so on.

Electric motors are also used to produce linear or rotary force, and should be
distinguished from devices such as magnetic solenoids and loudspeakers that
convert electricity into motion but do not generate usable mechanical powers,
which are respectively referred to as actuators and transducers.

Principles of Electric Motors

Electric motors work on the principles of electromagnetism. When charges are

still, they create electric fields. But when charges move, they instead produce
magnetic fields. A current in a wire, for example, produces its own magnetic
field. This is what we exploit in an electric motor to create movement. When a
current was passed through the wire, the wire rotated around the magnet,
showing that the current gave rise to a close circular magnetic field around the
wire. This motor is often demonstrated in physics experiments, brine
substituting for toxic mercury. Though Barlow’s wheel was an early refinement
to this Faraday demonstration, these and similar homopolar motors were to
remain unsuited to practical application until late in the century.

An electric motor contains a coil of wire that creates a magnetic field when
electricity flows through it. This is collectively known as an electromagnet. It
turns out that when a current flow through a magnetic field, the charges feel a
magnetic force on them at 90 degrees to the direction they’re moving. Because
of this, the wire as a whole feels a big force. And this force causes the loop of
wire to move; electrical energy has been changed into movement.

Conclusion

In magnetic motors, magnetic fields are formed in both the rotor and the stator.
The product between these two fields gives rise to a force, and thus a torque on
the motor shaft. One, or both, of these fields must be made to change with the
rotation of the motor. This is done by switching the poles on and off at the right
time, or varying the strength of the pole.