Question

Draw a labelled diagram of an electric motor. Explain its principle and working. What is the function of a split ring in an electric motor?

Answer 1

Hint: An electric motor is a device which converts electrical energy into mechanical energy. It works on the principle of electromagnetic induction. Example: electric motors are used to pump water to the overhead tanks.

Complete step-by-step solution -
An electric motor is a device which converts electrical energy into mechanical energy. It works on the principle of electromagnetic induction, that is when a current carrying conductor is placed in a magnetic field, it experiences a force, more specifically torque.

A electric motor, consists the following parts:
A dc power supply, a magnetic field which is either electromagnets or a permanent magnets, a current conducting coil, a rotor which rotates the coil, a commutator or split rings which reverse the direction of the current in the circuit and axle or brushes which are flexible and conducts electricity between the moving coil and the circuit.
When current flows through the coil which are placed in between the magnets. According to Fleming’s left hand rule, since the current is perpendicular to the magnetic field, the coil experiences a torque, due to which the coil starts to rotate. When the coil completes half the rotation, the DC current gets reversed, causing the torque in the opposite direction. This results in the coil to rotate in the completing the other half cycle in the same direction. This cycle continues.
Examples are: an electric motor is used to pump water to the overhead tanks.
A motor converts electrical energy to mechanical energy, whereas a generator converts mechanical energy to electrical energy.

Note: A motor converts electrical energy to mechanical energy, whereas a generator converts mechanical energy to electrical energy. The split rings reverse the direction of the current in the circuit, after every half cycle.