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An electromagnet is the basis of an electric motor. You can understand how things work in the motor by imagining the following scenario. Say that you created a simple electromagnet by wrapping 100 loops of wire around a nail and connecting it to a battery. The nail would become a magnet and have a north and south pole while the battery is connected.

Now say that you take your nail electromagnet, run an axle through the middle of it and suspend it in the middle of a horseshoe magnet as shown in the figure below. If you were to attach a battery to the electromagnet so that the north end of the nail appeared as shown, the basic law of magnetism tells you what would happen: The north end of the electromagnet would be repelled from the north end of the horseshoe magnet and attracted to the south end of the horseshoe magnet. The south end of the electromagnet would be repelled in a similar way. The nail would move about half a turn and then stop in the position shown.

You can see that this half-turn of motion is simply due to the way magnets naturally attract and repel one another. The key to an electric motor is to then go one step further so that, at the moment that this half-turn of motion completes, the field of the electromagnet flips. The flip causes the electromagnet to completeanother half-turn of motion. You flip the magnetic field just by changing the direction of the electrons flowing in the wire (you do that by flipping the battery over). If the field of the electromagnet were flipped at precisely the right moment at the end of each half-turn of motion, the electric motor would spin freely.

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Can an electric motor work without a magnet?

No, an electric motor requires a magnetic field to function. The interaction between the magnetic field and electric current generates the force that drives the motor's motion. Without a magnet, the motor would not be able to convert electrical energy into mechanical energy.


What changes electric energy into motion?

Electric energy is converted into motion through an electric motor. The electric motor uses electromagnetism to create a magnetic field that interacts with electrical currents, producing a rotational motion. This motion can then be used to power various devices and machinery.


The function of an electric motor is to?

convert electrical energy into mechanical energy in order to produce motion or rotation. This is achieved through the interaction of magnetic fields generated by the flow of electric current in the motor's coils, creating a force that drives the motion of the motor.


When did Michael Faraday come up with the electric motor?

The Electric motor was invented in 1821 by Michael Faraday.


An electric motor converts electrical energy to potential energy?

They don't. An electric motor is designed to convert electrical energy to kinetic energy, not the other way round. A device that converts kinetic energy to electrical energy is called a generator or a dynamo. Sometimes the same device can do both things (convert in both directions), but since the device is especially optimized for one function, it may not be very good at the other one.

Related Questions

What is the function of an electric motor in terms of electric power and motor?

The electric motor changes electric energy into mechanical energy.


the function of an electric motor is to chage?

chemical energy


What is the function of armature winding?

The winding function of an electric motor is a description of how the number of conductors in the windings around the motor changes with position.


What are the parts and function of electric motor?

Electrical energy to Mechanical energy


Why is a permanent magnet necessary for an electric motor to function effectively?

A permanent magnet is necessary for an electric motor to function effectively because it creates a magnetic field that interacts with the electric current flowing through the motor's coils, causing the motor to generate rotational motion. This interaction between the magnetic field of the permanent magnet and the electric current is essential for the motor to convert electrical energy into mechanical energy efficiently.


Function of AC motor?

To convert ac electric power into mechanical power.


What is the purpose of a motor controller?

A motor controller is a device that controls an electric motor. Most motor controllers require a manual and automatic function, forward and reverse rotation, and speed control.


How does the motor for an electric bike function and what are its key features?

The motor of an electric bike functions by converting electrical energy from the battery into mechanical energy to propel the bike forward. Key features of an electric bike motor include power output, efficiency, torque, and the ability to assist the rider with pedaling.


What makes an electric motor lock up?

One reason an electric motor might lock up is if the bearings seize or freeze (not meaning "freeze" from cold weather but "freeze" as in "lock up" and be unable to function).


Can an electric motor work without a magnet?

No, an electric motor requires a magnetic field to function. The interaction between the magnetic field and electric current generates the force that drives the motor's motion. Without a magnet, the motor would not be able to convert electrical energy into mechanical energy.


Which conversion does an electric motor make?

electric energy to mechanical energy


What is the speed of a 3kW electric motor?

The speed of motion generated by a motor is not a function of its nominal power. The nominal power, 3kW in this example, is an indicator for the electric power consumed, and for the force available in the direction of motion. The speed of a motor is determined by its construction, and can cover an extremely wide range regardless of its power.