What’s a DC motor?

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A DC motor uses magnets and an electric coil to produce torque, which drives it. The repelling and attractive forces of the magnets provide the torque that turns the motor. A DC motor requires at least one electromagnet, which switches the flow of current as the motor rotates, changing its polarity to keep it running. DC motors are used for various purposes, including electric shavers, power windows, and remote-controlled cars.

A direct current (DC) motor is a fairly simple electric motor that uses electricity and a magnetic field to produce torque, which drives it. In its simplest form, it requires two magnets of opposite polarity and an electric coil, which acts as an electromagnet. The repelling and attractive electromagnetic forces of the magnets provide the torque that turns the motor.

Anyone who has ever played with magnets knows that they are polarized, with a positive and a negative side. The attraction between opposite poles and the repulsion of like poles is easily felt, even with relatively weak magnets. A DC motor uses these properties to convert electricity into motion. When the magnets inside the motor attract and repel each other, the motor spins.

A DC motor requires at least one electromagnet, which switches the flow of current as the motor rotates, changing its polarity to keep it running. The other magnet or magnets can be permanent magnets or other electromagnets. Often the electromagnet is in the center of the motor and spins inside the permanent magnets, but this arrangement is not required.

To imagine a simple DC motor, a person can think of a wheel split into two halves between two magnets. The wheel in this example is the electromagnet. The two outer magnets are permanent, one positive and one negative. For this example, the left magnet is negatively charged and the right magnet is positively charged.

Electric current is supplied to the coils of wire on the wheel inside the motor and causes a magnetic force. To turn the motor, the wheel must be negatively charged on the negative permanent magnet side and positively charged on the positive permanent magnet side. Since like charges repel and opposite charges attract, the wheel will spin so that its negative side spins to the right, where the positive permanent magnet is, and the positive side of the wheel spins to the left, where the magnet is. permanent negative. The magnetic force turns the wheel and this motion can be used to do work.

When the sides of the wheel reach their point of greatest attraction, the electric current is switched, causing the wheel to change polarity. The side that was positive becomes negative and the side that was negative becomes positive. The magnetic forces are out of alignment again and the wheel continues to rotate. As the motor spins, it continuously changes the flow of electricity to the inner wheel, so the magnetic forces continue to spin the wheel.
DC motors are used for a variety of purposes, including electric shavers, power windows, and remote-controlled cars. Their simple design and reliability make them a good choice for many different uses, as well as a fascinating way to study the effects of magnetic fields.




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