Wednesday, January 25, 2017

Electromagnetic Motors

Magnets

A magnet has a north and south pole. Two like poles repel each other and two unlike poles attract each other. A magnet produces a magnetic field. This is the space around a magnet. When another magnet enters the magnetic field of another, it can be attracted or repelled based on the poles. A magnet can be created by wrapping wire around a ferromagnetic material such as iron. Sending an electric current through this will turn the metal into a magnet. This technique is used when making motors. 


What is an Electromagnetic Motor?


An electromagnetic motor is a machine that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy. It can also be called an electric motor. The basis of any electric motor is an electromagnet. An electromagnet is created by wrapping loops of wire around a nail and connecting it to a battery. The nail then becomes a magnet with north and south poles. The nail spins when the poles of the magnet and the nail repel each other.

DC Motor

A DC motor is powered by a direct current. This means that the motor is powered by something like a battery. A DC motor always has an armature, field circuit, and commutator. 

AC Motor

An AC motor is powered by an alternating current. This means the motor is powered by generators, power grids, etc. 

Parts of a Motor

A motor is comprised of many different parts that work together. 

Rotor

The rotor is then moving part of the motor. It turns the shaft which then delivers mechanical power. There are conductors in the rotor to carry currents and interact with the magnetic field. This is sometimes called the armature (DC Motors). 

Stator

The stator is the electromagnetic circuit. This is also called the the field magnet. This magnet interacts with the rotor and the poles repelling each other results in it spinning. 


Commutator

The commutator switches the input. They are in contact with the brushes and are connected to the armature with wire. This keeps the motor spinning. It connects everything electrically and completes the circuit. 

History of Electric Motors

The first electric motors were created by Andrew Gordon who was a Scottish monk. Many other people contributed to this with principles, theories, and ideas. The first DC motor was constructed by William Sturgeon. He was a British scientist. AC motors came later than the DC motors. Walter Baily was the first person to build an AC motor. The first AC motors (without commutators) were created by Galileo Ferraris and Nikola Tesla. 

What are they used for?

Electric motors are used everywhere. They are used in fans, blowers, pumps, watches, and cars. They are found in many other tools and appliances because of their simple yet important function. Many things need a type of force to work, and a motor easily supplies that. 

Bibliography

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