Electric motor
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(June 2009)
Electric motorsAn
electric motor
is a device usingelectrical energy to producemechanical energy,
nearly always by the interaction of magnetic fields and current-carrying conductors. Thereverse process, that of using mechanical energy to produce electrical energy, isaccomplished by agenerator or dynamo. Traction motorsused on vehicles often perform
both tasks.Electric motors are found in myriad uses such as industrial fans, blowers and pumps,machine tools, household appliances, power tools, and computer disk drives, amongmany other applications. Electric motors may be operated by direct current from a battery in a portable device or motor vehicle, or from alternating current from a central electricaldistribution grid. The smallest motors may be found in electric wristwatches. Medium-size motors of highly standardized dimensions and characteristics provide convenientmechanical power for industrial uses. The very largest electric motors are used for propulsion of large ships, and for such purposes as pipeline compressors, with ratings inthe thousands of kilowatts. Electric motors may be classified by the source of electric power, by their internal construction, and by application.The physical principle of production of mechanical force by the interaction of an electriccurrent and a magnetic field was known as early as 1821. Electric motors of increasingefficiency were constructed throughout the 19th century, but commercial exploitation of electric motors on a large scale required efficient electrical generators and electricaldistribution networks.
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] The principle
The principle of conversion of electrical energy into mechanical energy byelectromagnetic means was demonstrated by the British scientistMichael Faradayin1821 and consisted of a free-hanging wire dipping into a pool of mercury. A permanentmagnet was placed in the middle of the pool of mercury. When a currentwas passed
through the wire, the wire rotated around the magnet, showing that the current gave riseto a circular magnetic field around the wire
. This motor is often demonstrated in school physics classes, but brine (salt water) is sometimes used in place of the toxic mercury.
This is the simplest form of a class of electric motors calledhomopolar motors. A later refinement is theBarlow's Wheel. These were demonstration devices, unsuited to practical applications due to limited power.
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Electric Motor
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| Upload Date: | 07/23/2009 |
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