1.3 motors and generators

• electrical change: the energy made available by the movement of charge
• mechanical energy: the energy possessed by an observable object due to the motion or its position; the sum of the kinetic energy and potential energy of an object
• armature: the section of a motor or generator that rotates, consisting of a coil of wire, a rotating shaft, and a commutator
• commutator: a part of a motor or generator found on the armature that provides electrical contact, allowing current to flow to the rotating coil
• shaft: a part of a motor or generator that supports the coil of the armature, providing an axis for the rotation of the armature
• brush: a stationary part of a motor or generator that makes electrical contact with the rotating commutator
• direct current (DC): a flow of charges that does not increase or decrease and flows in a single direction
• alternating current (AC): a flow of charges that reverses directions at regular intervals