Electric Motor

An electric motor is a device that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy. It is widely used in various fields, including industrial machinery, household appliances, and transportation.

Working Principle

The basic principle of an electric motor is that when a current-carrying conductor is placed in a magnetic field, it experiences a force. This force is called the Lorentz force, and it causes the conductor to move.

An electric motor consists of a coil of wire (called the armature) that is placed within a magnetic field. When an electric current flows through the coil, it experiences a force that causes it to rotate. The armature is connected to a shaft, which can be used to drive a machine or device.

Working of an Electric Motor

The working of an electric motor can be explained in the following steps:

1. The electric current flows through the armature coil, which is placed within the magnetic field.
2. The magnetic field exerts a force on the coil, causing it to rotate.
3. As the coil rotates, it also rotates the shaft to which it is attached.
4. The rotating shaft can be used to drive a machine or device.

Function of Split Ring

A split ring, also known as a commutator, is a component of an electric motor that is used to reverse the direction of the current flowing through the armature coil.

The split ring consists of two halves that are insulated from each other. As the armature rotates, the split ring makes contact with two stationary brushes that are connected to the power source. When the split ring is in contact with the brushes, the current flows through the armature in one direction.

However, as the armature rotates further, the split ring breaks contact with the brushes and the current stops flowing. At this point, the split ring has rotated 180 degrees and is now in contact with the opposite set of brushes. This causes the current to flow through the armature in the opposite direction, which keeps the motor rotating.

In summary, the split ring is used to change the direction of the current flowing through the armature coil, which keeps the electric motor rotating.