An electric motor is a device that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy. It works by using the principle of electromagnetism, which is the interaction between electric currents and magnetic fields. There are different types of electric motors, but the basic idea is the same: a coil of wire carrying an electric current rotates inside a magnetic field, creating a force that makes the coil spin.
One of the simplest electric motors is a DC motor, which runs on direct current (DC) from a battery or a power supply. A DC motor has two main parts: a rotor and a stator. The rotor is the part that spins and has a coil of wire wrapped around an iron core. The stator is the part that stays still and has a permanent magnet or an electromagnet. The coil of wire on the rotor is connected to a split ring called a commutator, which rotates with the coil and switches the direction of the current every half turn. This ensures that the coil always experiences a force in the same direction, making it spin continuously. The commutator is attached to two metal brushes that slide on its surface and provide the electric contact to the power source.
An AC motor is another type of electric motor that runs on alternating current (AC) from a wall socket or a generator. An AC motor also has a rotor and a stator, but they are both made of coils of wire called windings. The stator winding is connected to the AC power source and creates a rotating magnetic field that changes direction periodically. The rotor winding is induced by the magnetic field and also creates its own magnetic field. The interaction between the two magnetic fields causes the rotor to spin in sync with the stator. Unlike a DC motor, an AC motor does not need a commutator or brushes to switch the current direction.
A universal motor is a special type of electric motor that can run on both DC and AC power sources. It has a rotor and a stator that are both wound with coils of wire, similar to an AC motor. However, it also has a commutator and brushes, similar to a DC motor. When connected to a DC power source, it works like a DC motor, with the commutator switching the current direction in the rotor coil. When connected to an AC power source, it works like an AC motor, with both the rotor and stator coils changing their magnetic fields in sync with the AC frequency.
If you want to learn more about how electric motors work, you can check out these web pages: [How Electric Motors Work | HowStuffWorks](^1^), [How do electric motors work? - Explain that Stuff](^2^), [How Does an Electric Motor Work? | Sciencing](^3^). I hope this helps you understand the basics of electric motors. 😊
Source: Conversation with Bing, 10/16/2023
(1) How Electric Motors Work | HowStuffWorks. https://electronics.howstuffworks.com/motor.htm.
(2) How do electric motors work? - Explain that Stuff. https://www.explainthatstuff.com/electricmotors.html.
(3) How Does an Electric Motor Work? | Sciencing. https://sciencing.com/electric-motor-work-4569196.html.
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