What is an electric motor? What is the basic principle of working of a DC motor?

Concept Used: Mechanism of the motor.

Prerequisite: understanding the principle of the motor.

Step 1:Definition of an electric motor:

An electric motor is a device that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy. Electric motors are used in devices such as fans, refrigerators, mixers, washing machines, automobiles, etc.

Step 2: Types of an electric motor:

There are two kinds of electric motors, based on electricity on which they operate,

• DC motors, work on direct current.
• AC motors, work on alternating current.

Step 3: Principle of DC motor:

• A machine that converts direct current into mechanical work, is called a DC motor.
• The DC motor works on the principle of “Faraday's law of electromagnetic induction".
• Faraday's law of electromagnetic induction states that " Whenever a current-carrying conductor is placed in a magnetic field, it experiences a force".
• When the current-carrying conductor is placed over a magnetic field, there will be an interaction between the magnetic field created by the current-carrying conductor and magnetic field on which the current-carrying conductor is placed, which will cause the conductor to move, i.e. when electric and magnetic field interacts, a mechanical force arises.
• The direction of motion of a conductor ( motor ) is given by Fleming's Left-hand rule.