Physical Chap 13
Physical Chap 13
Physical Chap 13
Magnetism
@ Work
Chapter 13
Electrical & Mechanical energy
1. Magnetic forces repel when alike and attract when
opposite
2. Electric current in a wire produces a magnetic field
3. Therefore a magnet can move a wire when it is
charged just as it moves a magnet
Mechanical & Electrical Energy
Mechanical energy – energy associated w/ movement (kinetic) or
position (potential)
Electrical energy – energy associated w/ electrical current
Energy is changed from one form to another
When a current carrying wire is placed in a magnetic field, electrical energy is
converted into mechanical energy ( a motor is made)
Galvanometers
Tool used to measure small currents
A coil of wire in a magnetic field causes a torque when a current passes
thru it.
The coil is attached to a pointer and a spring so as the current increases the
amount of deflection is proportional to the current.
Electric Motors
Converts electrical energy into mechanical energy
How they work:
a. The current induces a magnetic field in the wire.
b. As the motor turns the forces push up on one side and down
on the other
c. The side that was pushed down on the right is now pushed up
on the left and it begins to cycle over and over.
Parts of a Motor
Commutator, Brushes, Armature, Permanent Magnet, Current Source
Commutator - device that reverses the flow of current thru an electric motor
i. Two parts of a ring each attached to one end of the wire loop
ii. When the loop rotates, so does the Commutator
iii. As it rotates, the Commutator slides past two contact points called brushes
Brushes – contact point between the Commutator and the power source
Permanent magnet- attracts & repels
the coils w/in the armature thus allowing
the motor to spin rapidly
Current source – supplies the electrical
energy needed to the brushes which
transfers to the commutator
Armature – instead of a single loop of
wire most electric motors have dozens or
hundreds of loops of wire wrapped
around a metal core
Generating Electric Current
Induction of electric current - making a current flow in a wire
1. Moving a coil of wire up and down in a magnetic field or
2. Moving a magnetic field up and down through a coil of wire
Alternating Current
The flow of an induced current may be constant or may change
direction
Alternating current – AC – as a coil is moved up & down on a
magnet repeatedly the current would reverse direction each time
A current that changes direction
The electricity in our homes is AC
AC generators- simply a backwards motor
a. requires a mechanical source to spin the axle
b. which in turn spins the loop/armature which will induce a current.
c. Attached to each end of the coil loop are Slip Rings – which spin &
d. transfers the electricity to the brushes & the rest of the circuit
Direct Current
Direct current – DC – the current resulting in electrons flowing from
high potential to lower potential
a. Therefore it moves in one direction only
b. The electricity stored in batteries is DC
DC Generator
Similar to an AC generator but has a single Commutator
instead of two slip rings
Generating Electricity
Converts mechanical energy into electrical energy
An electric motor uses electricity to produce motion
A generator uses motion to produce electricity
Generating Electricity - turbines attached to many
different devices to help generate electricity from
mechanical energy: Wind turbines, steam turbines, water
(hydroelectric dams) tides, nuclear (San Onofre )
Also Solar electric cells and chemical
reactions (dry cell batteries and wet cell )
Turbines – the “fins attached to the
axle of a generator that act as a
“propeller”
Using Electric Power
Electric power – Remember that Power is the rate at
which work is done and the unit of power is the Watt.
Formula is: Power = Voltage x Current
Formula is: Watts = Volts x Amps
Or Amps = Watts / Volts
Or Volts = Watts / Amps