A simple motor. Image credit youtube.com

A simple motor. Image credit youtube.com

ZIMSEC O Level Combined Science Notes: Electric motors

  • An electric motor converts electrical energy into kinetic energy
  • This is caused by the interaction of the electrical field of the coil and
  • The magnetic field of the magnets in the motor
  • A current carrying wire moves when it is placed in a magnetic field
The basic fields of a wire and magnetic field and how they create movement

The basic fields of a wire and magnetic field and how they create movement

  • This is because the wire has a field around it that looks like the one shown above
  • The area around a magnet is called a magnetic field
  • It is has lines of force emanating from the poles of the magnet
  • The fields between the poles look like the ones shown in the diagram above
  • When these two fields: the wire’s field and the magnet’s field are
  • Superimposed on top of one another they change shape
  • The resultant force, due to the interaction of these two forces
  • Pushes the wire downwards as shown in the diagram above
  • An electric motor is a perfection of this technique

To access more topics go to the Combined Science Notes page.