An Introduction to the Physics of simple DC Electric Motors

An Introduction to the Physics of simple DC Electric Motors, Old NSW Physics syllabus DC electric motors.

Course Description

This is a Physics course, not an engineering course, or a mechanics course.

This course is being made free as it is costing more to maintain business registration than the course generates in income.

Please check out the preview lectures and lecture descriptions.

This course is an introduction to the physics of simple DC electric motors.  The majority of the course is an introduction to the physical principles underlying electric motors, with these principles used to explain the operation of simple DC electric motors in the final few lectures.

The course aims to gradually build your understanding of the physics underlying electric motors.  As such it begins by examining the interaction between moving charged particles and magnetic fields, and how a moving electric charge in a magnetic field generates a force, which when the charge is moving through a conductor causes a force on the conductor.  Calculating the forces on an isolated moving charge and an electric charge moving through a conductor are both outlined, with worked examples in the notes.  Building on this the course goes on to consider the forces on a current carrying loop in a magnetic field, the calculation of torque, the calculation of the torque on a current carrying loop in a magnetic field.  The final section of the course explains the operation of simple DC electric motors in terms of the physical concepts introduced earlier in the course.  You will have the opportunity to build a simple DC electric motor.

This course will teach you about the physics of the motion of electric charges in magnetic fields that results in the motor effect, and how this is exploited in simple DC electric motors.