Question

Draw a diagram of a DC motor and label the following parts clearly.

1. Armature
2. Commutator
3. Field magnet
4. Brushes

Explain these parts briefly. What is the type of energy transfer involved in a DC motor?

Answer 1

• Armature: It consists of a large rectangular coil of insulated copper wire wound over a soft iron core that rotates freely when experiences magnetic forces.
• Commutator: It consists of a split copper ring mounted on the shaft whose main function is to reverse the direction of current in the armature coil after every half-rotation.
• Field Magnet: A pair of strong permanent concave magnetic poles that create a strong radial magnetic field to exert a mechanical force on the current-carrying coil.
• Brushes: Two stationary carbon strips that press lightly against the rotating split rings to act as sliding contacts for supplying electricity from the battery into the moving coil.

A DC motor converts electrical energy into mechanical energy.