Question

How does the coil in a motor rotate by a full rotation? In a motor, we require continuous rotation of the current carrying coil. As the plane of the coil tends to become parallel to the magnetic field \(\overrightarrow{B}\) the current in the coil is reversed externally. Referring to Fig. the segment ab occupies the position cd. At this position of rotation, the current is reversed. Instead of from b to a, it flows from a to b, force \(\overrightarrow{F_m}\) continues to act in the same direction so that the torque continues to rotate the coil. The reversal of the current is achieved by using a commutator which connects the wires of the power supply to the coil via carbon brush contacts.

Answer 1

Electric Motor

From Fig. we see that the torque on a current loop rotates the loop to smaller values of 9 until the torque becomes zero, when the plane of the loop is perpendicular to the magnetic field and θ = 0. If the current in the loop remains in the same direction when the loop turns past this position, the torque will reverse direction and turn the loop in the opposite direction, i.e., anticlockwise. To provide continuous rotation in the same sense, the current in the loop must periodically reverse direction, as shown in Fig.

In an electric motor, the current reversal is achieved externally by brushes and a split-ring commutator.