Question

Name four appliances wherein an electric motor, a rotating device that converts electrical energy to mechanical energy, is used as an important component. In what respect motors are different from generators?

Answer 1

Hint: A motor converts electrical energy into mechanical energy and this mechanical energy output is generally in the form of rotational energy. Now try to imagine any device which has rotations on consuming the electrical energy.

Complete step by step solution:
The electric appliances which use an electric motor as an important component are
1. Ceiling fan
2. Washing machine
3. Remote controlled toy car
4. Microwave tray

A generator converts mechanical energy to electrical energy. Its function is exactly opposite to that of the electric motor.

The generator comprises a coil of wire, which rotates by the use of a diesel engine, this coil rotates between the two poles of a magnet and the changing flux through the coil helps generate emf in the coil thus producing electricity. Hence the mechanical energy taken from a diesel engine is converted to electrical energy.

While a motor has a current carrying coil between the poles of a magnet. When a current carrying coil is placed in a magnetic field, the coil experiences a torque. Hence the magnetic field of the magnet exerts torque on the coil and makes it rotate. This rotation is taken as mechanical energy. Thus the electrical energy taken as current in the coil is converted to mechanical energy.

Note: Before solving such theoretical questions, the student needs to be able to understand the working, principle and construction of a motor as well as that of a generator. A motor and a generator has similar types of construction but their working principles are different.