How Electric Motors Work

• What concept explains the force on a current-carrying wire in a magnetic field?

  The motor effect
• What determines the direction of the force on a wire in a magnetic field?

  The directions of the magnetic field and current
• How can you determine the direction of force on a wire using Fleming's rule?

  By using Fleming's left-hand rule
• What happens to the force direction if the current direction in the wire is reversed?

  The force direction also reverses
• What occurs when two wires are connected at one end in a coil configuration?

  The coil experiences opposing forces on each side
• What direction will the coil spin if the left side experiences an upward force and the right side a downward force?

  Clockwise
• What happens to the current direction after the coil is rotated by 180 degrees?

  The current direction reverses
• What is the result of the current direction reversal on the forces acting on the coil?

  The forces swap direction on each side
• Why would the coil keep flipping back and forth without intervention?

  Because forces keep swapping directions
• What device is used to change the direction of current every half turn in a motor?

  A split ring commutator
• What is the function of the split ring commutator in a motor?

  It swaps positive and negative connections
• How does the split ring commutator affect the coil's rotation direction?

  It ensures the coil rotates in the same direction
• What happens when the positive terminal is connected to one side of the commutator?

  The current flows around the coil
• What is the result of the current flowing around the coil in terms of motion?

  The coil begins to rotate
• Why is the design of electric motors considered simple in engineering terms?

  It relies on basic principles of electricity and magnetism
• What types of devices commonly use electric motors?

  Fans, vehicles, and hard drives
• What is necessary for real-life motors to be more powerful than simple models?

  Increased current, more turns, and stronger magnets
• How can the speed of an electric motor's rotation be increased?

  By increasing current, turns, or magnetic flux density
• What are the key components of how an electric motor works?

  • Current-carrying wire in a magnetic field
  • Motor effect
  • Fleming's left-hand rule
  • Split ring commutator
  • Direction of current and forces
• What are the steps involved in the operation of an electric motor?

  1. Current flows through the coil.
  2. Coil experiences forces due to magnetic field.
  3. Coil rotates based on force direction.
  4. Split ring commutator changes current direction.
  5. Coil continues to rotate in the same direction.