Energy & Electricity in Science : How Does an Electric Motor Work?

An electric motor works through two main elements, with the first being opposing magnets and the second being a wire coil. Learn about carbon brushes and commutators and how they help electric motors work with information from a science teacher in this free video on electricity and science lessons.

Expert: Steve Jones
Contact: www.marlixint.com
Bio: Steve Jones is an experienced mathematics and science teacher.
Filmmaker: Paul Volniansky

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• physical science
• science
• energy
• electricity
• solar energy
• nuclear energy
• earth science
• physics
• chemistry
• light

[alexanderdeg1]

Thank you, I finally understand! This is the best explanation video on youtube! :DDDD

[AwesomeDeadScum]

@sandslash123 If there's magnetic field (not the induced one obviously) like here (magnets), you use left hand rule and you have to point your index finger from north to south pole of magnets, middle goes as the current flows and then thumb shows you the motion direction. You couldn't use right hand here because it shows only induced magnetic field direction instead of motion, and it doesnt consider any external magnetic fields.

[sandslash123]

@AwesomeDeadScum in that case, what does the right hand rule shows?

[AwesomeDeadScum]

I liked the lesson pretty much :) very good explaining

[AwesomeDeadScum]

@sandslash123 because left hand rule shows you the direction of magnetic force (your thumb) in relation to electric current flow (middle finger), which is quite useful in this case. You have to make sort of "pistol" figure with your fingers: when thumb is upwards, index finger is straight and middle finger is angled 90 degrees. Quite easy :)

[sandslash123]

Why can't I apply Right hand rule to it? Why are you applying left hand rule?

[livedandletdie]

If I would grade any of the videos I've seen here on eHow I would say that there are at least 4-5 things wrong in them, they are using wrong terms and not really explaining how things do work. An electric motor works by rotating a coil meaning magnetic material to generate an electric current that sends electrons down a wire. It is pretty simple thing to do but here is the fun thing magnets have a state of equality meaning that the coil will stand still if no outside force is applied.

[livedandletdie]

When real scientist talks about magnetic fields... no North and southpole. it's positive pole and negative pole. And think about what you say. When this coil turns half a turn which is 180º not 90º sometimes I which people where more correct and stopped giving out false information. And to someone down in the comments A current of electricity cannot penetrate an magnetic field because the electric current makes an electric field so the magnetic field is always parallel to the current.

[lovemusic5596]

Is the roatation of that commutator is opposite to the roatation of that coil ?

[lovemusic5596]

What happens if the current is parallel to the direction of the magnetic field ?