An electric motor has different parts in it. They are listed below:

• A power supply
• Field Magnet
• Commutator
• Brushes
• Armature
• Axle

These parts are the building components of the electric motor. Let’s understand each part in detail. 

1. Commutator: It is the major component of the motor. It is the rotating interface of the coil.
2. Power Supply: It is the electrical form of energy that is used to run the motor. It is usually a DC source for the electric motor.
3. Armature Coil: The coil that helps the motor to run.
4. Armature Core: It holds the armature coil.
5. Brushes: It is a conducting medium that imparts electricity between wires and the moving parts.
6. Field Magnet: By using Fleming’s left-hand rule, a torque is produced with the help of a magnetic field.

There are primarily two types of electric motors— AC motor and DC motor. The basic difference comes in their nature of power supply where the DC motors work on DC power supply, and the AC motors work on AC power supply. There may be a further classification of electric motors based on the components they use, such as brushing or brushless motors and more.

Electric motors are used extensively in many electrical applications and are a primary tool to convert electrical energy to mechanical energy. Some of the appliances in which they are used are:

• Water pumps
• Cars, remote cars, vehicles
• Drilling machines
• Industrial machinery
• Washing machine

The major working principle of an electric motor is based on Fleming’s left-hand rule. Let’s look at an example of a DC motor to learn how it works.

1. The armature core is placed between the electromagnetic poles and the winding is done with the copper wire. 
2. DC current is supplied through the armature coil which revolves inside a magnetic field of the electromagnet. 
3. The current experiences a net torque if it flows inside any magnetic field. Hence, the armature experiences a net torque. 
4. Fleming’s left-hand rule (establishes a relationship between the perpendicular force, field and the current vectors) can be applied to determine the direction of the force.  It is experimentally found that the net forces by the North and South poles are in such a way that they tend to rotate the armature. 
5. As one-half rotation is completed, the current  changes its direction due to the change in the conductor’s location with respect to the N and S pole. 
6.  Now, a new torque is  produced in the same rotational direction, and it further completes a full rotation.

Electric motors are an essential component of modern-day instruments and play a vital role in carrying out  mechanical work like drilling, rotation and much more. The motors are broadly categorized based on their power supply. They can be AC or DC source motors with different components. You can build a car or even a washing machine by using motors and other necessary parts. Electric motors are widely used and are a boon to the modern world as it helps  make things easier.

1. What is the principle of an electric motor?

The basic principle of the motor is that any current going inside a magnetic field will produce a force that will try to move the conductor. It can also be verified by Fleming’s left-hand rule, which tells us the relational direction between the force, field and current.

The armature coil rotates under the direct influence of the torque produced by the moving current in the wire that is inside the magnetic field created by the electromagnets or permanent magnetic materials.

2. What are the different types of electric mot-ors?

The different types of electric motors are: 

1. AC Motors: This type of motor includes phase motor, capacitor start motor, capacitor start capacitor run motor, resistance start motor, hysteresis motor, universal motor, 3 phase motor, squirrel cage induction motor, and slip ring induction motor.
2. DC Motors: DC motor types include DC series type, DC shunt type, DC compound type, long shunt compound, and short shunt compound.
3. Servo and stepper motors are also electric motors that have been modified to achieve a more advanced purpose.

3. What are the two types of motors?

The two types of electric motors are AC motors and DC motors.

4. Is an electric motor AC or DC?

Both AC and DC are used to power electric motors. The main necessity of any electric motor is a current that is provided by both the AC and DC source.

5. What is an electric motor with a diagram?

Electric motors are  very useful devices that convert the electrical energy from any source (AC or DC) to mechanical energy for any productive work. Check the electric motor diagram below: