Electric motors
Objectives
• Identify magnetic forces in motors.
• Describe the relationship between
electricity and magnetism in motors.
Assessment
1. An example of magnetic force in an electric motor is the force…
A. between the armature and the stator, driving the motor.
B. of friction against the armature, generating heat.
C. that is applied by the motor on another object.
D. that pushes electrons through the electromagnet.
Assessment
2. A motor spins because the magnetic field of an electromagnet in
the motor changes direction, alternately attracting and repelling a
permanent magnet. What causes the magnetic field to change
direction?
A. The current flow increases and decreases.
B. The distance between magnets changes.
C. The current direction is reversed.
D. The current switches on and off.
Physics terms
• electric motor
• rotor
• armature
• brush contacts
• commutator
Electric motors
How many devices in your
classroom use an electric motor?
Probably several!
Electric motors
How many devices in your
classroom use an electric motor?
Probably several!
Electric motors use electricity and
magnetism.
They convert electrical energy into
mechanical energy—which you can
use to spin a fan or drive an electric
car.
Stator and rotor
This motor contains two types of
magnets:
• a stationary magnet called the
stator.
• magnets on a rotating disk,
called the rotor.
The rotor magnets alternate in
polarity as you move around the
circle.
What makes a motor turn?
The stator and rotor magnets put
forces on each other.
• Two south poles repel.
• North and south poles attract.
This causes the motor to turn a little.
Will the motor continue to turn?
What makes a motor turn?
Will the motor continue to turn?
No. When magnet B gets close to the
stationary magnet the motor will stop.
What would make the motor start
moving again?
What makes a motor turn?
Will the motor continue to turn?
No. When magnet B gets close to the
stationary magnet the motor will stop.
What would make the motor start
moving again?
Hint: What could you change about
the stationary magnet?
What makes a motor turn?
Will the motor continue to turn?
No. When magnet B gets close to the
stationary magnet the motor will stop.
What would make the motor start
moving again?
If the stationary magnet flips polarity,
magnet B will be repelled and the
motor will move a little more.
Changing polarity
Every time the magnet reverses
polarity, the motor moves a little.
To keep the motor moving, we must
keep changing the polarity of the
stationary magnet.
How? How can we use electricity to
change the polarity?
Changing polarity
How can we use electricity to change
the polarity? Use an electromagnet!
Recall: Currents create magnetic fields.
• A coil of current-carrying wire Reverse
becomes an electromagnet. these to
reverse
• Reversing the + and – terminals flips polarity.
the electromagnet’s polarity.
Investigation
Part 1: Reversing the electromagnet’s polarity to spin the motor
3. See how fast you can get the
rotor to spin!
When should you change the
polarity to run the motor the
fastest?
Just as the rotor magnet
passes the electromagnet.
Investigation
Part 1: Reversing the electromagnet’s polarity to spin the motor
4. Change the strength of the
electromagnet using the
slider and see how fast you
can get the rotor to spin.
Answer the questions on
your assignment sheet.
A real motor
In many electric motors, the
stationary magnet doesn‘t change
polarity.
Instead, the magnets on the rotor
are electromagnets and reverse
their polarity at the right time.
A rotor with electromagnets on it is
called an armature.
A real motor
The stationary
motors are now
permanent
magnets that do
not change
polarity.
A real motor
Brush contacts are connected to
the power supply.
Commutator plates are connected
to the electromagnets in the
armature.
The brushes are always connected
to 2 of the 3 commutator plates.
As the motor turns the brushes
connect to different commutator
plates, automatically alternating the
polarity of the electromagnets.
animated illustration, page 557.
Summary
This brief video summarizes
the operation of the electric
motor (page 555).
Investigation
Part 2: Changing magnetic fields and electric current
In the motor an electric current
generates the magnetic field of the
electromagnet.
Is it possible to do the opposite?
Can you use a magnetic field to
generate electric current?
Assessment
1. An example of magnetic force in an electric motor is the force…
A. between the armature and the stator, driving the motor.
B. of friction against the armature, generating heat.
C. that is applied by the motor on another object.
D. that pushes electrons through the electromagnet.
Assessment
1. An example of magnetic force in an electric motor is the force…
A. between the armature and the stator, driving the motor.
B. of friction against the armature, generating heat.
C. that is applied by the motor on another object.
D. that pushes electrons through the electromagnet.
Assessment
2. A motor spins because the magnetic field of an electromagnet in
the motor changes direction, alternately attracting and repelling a
permanent magnet. What causes the magnetic field to change
direction?
A. The current flow increases and decreases.
B. The distance between magnets changes.
C. The current direction is reversed.
D. The current switches on and off.
Assessment
2. A motor spins because the magnetic field of an electromagnet in
the motor changes direction, alternately attracting and repelling a
permanent magnet. What causes the magnetic field to change
direction?
A. The current flow increases and decreases.
B. The distance between magnets changes.
C. The current direction is reversed.
D. The current switches on and off.
