Electric motors

Question 1

What angle must a current carrying wire be placed to the lines of a magnetic field to experience a force?

Answer 1

It must be placed at a right angle to the magnetic field lines, if placed parallel the current carrying wire experiences no force

Question 2

How does a motor turn?

Answer 2

When a current flows in a wire through a magnetic field, the wire experiences a force and if its free to move, it will. This is the motor effect.

Question 3

What is the job of a commutator in a motor?

Answer 3

In a motor, one side of the current carrying circuit will be pushed upwards and the other downwards creating a circular motion, but to ensure the circuit turns at the top of each push from the magnet, a commutator turns the circuit at the correct time in the revolution, maintaining the motor’s turning

Question 4

What devices and domestic appliances use motors?

Answer 4

DVD players, hard disc drives, electric motor vehicles, whisks etc.