An electric motor (or electrical motor) is an electric machine that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy. Most electric motors operate through the interaction between the motor’s magnetic field and electric current in a wire winding. This interaction generates a force (as per Faraday’s Law) in the form of torque which is applied to the motor’s shaft.
Electric motors can be powered by direct current (DC) sources, such as batteries or rectifiers. Or by alternating current (AC) sources, such as inverters, electric generators, or a power grid.
Motors are the reason we have many of the technologies we enjoy in the 21st century.
Without the motor, we had still been living in Sir Thomas Edison’s Era, where the only purpose of electricity would have been to in lightbulbs.
Electric motors are found in cars, trains, power tools, fans, air conditioning, household appliances, disk drives, and much more. Some electric watches even use small motors.
There are different types of motors that have been developed for different purposes.
The basic principle underlying the functioning of an electrical motor is Faraday’s Law of induction.
That is, that a force is created when an alternating current interacts with a changing magnetic field.
Ever since the invention of motors, many advancements have taken place in this field of engineering, and it has become a subject of extreme importance for modern engineers.
Types of Electric Motors
The various types of motors include:
DC Motors
Synchronous Motors
3 Phase Induction Motors (a type of induction motor)
Single Phase Induction Motors (a type of induction motor)
Other special, hyper-specific motors