Electric motor – converts electrical energy into mechanical energy.
In normal motoring mode, most electric motors operate through the interaction between an electric motor’s magnetic field and winding currents to generate force within the motor.

Found in applications as diverse as industrial fans, blowers and pumps, machine tools, household appliances, power tools, and disk drives, electric motors can be powered by direct current (DC) sources, such as from batteries, motor vehicles or rectifiers, or by alternating current (AC) sources, such as from the power grid, inverters or generators.

Electric motors involve rotating coils of wire which are driven by the magnetic force exerted by a magnetic field on an electric current. They transform electrical energy into mechanical energy.

A simple motor has six parts:

• Armature or rotor
• Commutator
• Brushes
• Axle
• Field magnet
• DC power supply

induction motor (video 4:43) – Working of 3 Phase Induction motor is explained in this video with help of animation. They are the most commonly used electric motors. Here basic operation principle of an induction motor is introduced in a logical manner. Concepts of rotating magnetic field, synchronous speed and slip is introduced in this video.

That’s engineering

• electric motor – Current flows through the wire coil and creates an electromagnet. One face of the coil becomes a north pole, the other a south pole. The permanent magnet attracts its opposite pole on the coil and repels its like pole, causing the coil to spin.
• Electromagnetic Force –

Engineering ideas

• armature, commuter, brushes, axle, field magnet, power supply, magnets, electromagnets, electricity

Do it
Here are some challenges for you to work on…

• Stripped Down Motor – make the Exploratorium’s motor project. As motors go, this is about as simple as it gets. A coil of wire becomes an electromagnet when current passes through it. The electromagnet interacts with a permanent magnet, causing the coil to spin. There! You have created an electric motor.
• Jitterbig (video 1:34) – make a motorized toy that seems to dance, using a recycled CD and a DC motor. Step-by-step demonstration (10:57)