Electric Motors Flashcards

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Note: We may include questions that have multiple correct answers. It's useful to remember specific examples to understand these concepts better.

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What is the motor effect?

A force on a wire that carries a current in a magnetic field.

In a simple d.c. motor, why does the coil start to turn?

Forces act in opposite directions on the two sides of the coil, making a turning effect.

What does Fleming’s left-hand rule help you find in a motor?

The direction of the force on the wire.

In Fleming’s left-hand rule, what do the thumb, first finger, and second finger show?

Thumb: force (motion). First finger: field (North to South). Second finger: current (positive to negative).

What is the job of the split-ring commutator in a d.c. motor?

It reverses the current in the coil every half turn, so the coil keeps spinning the same way.

What do the brushes do in a motor?

They press on the commutator to pass current to and from the spinning coil.

Name two ways to make a motor spin faster or with more force.

Increase the current and use a stronger magnetic field.

How can you reverse the direction that a d.c. motor spins?

Reverse the current or swap the magnetic poles.

What happens if a simple motor has no commutator?

The coil turns a little, then the forces reverse and it rocks back and forth instead of spinning.

For the motor effect to happen, how must the wire sit in the magnetic field?

It must cut across the field lines. If it is along the lines, the force is very small.

Revision Notes
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