Got Physics?

MOTORS

A Motor is basically any machine that converts energy from one form into mechanical energy. Some of the first engines every built date back to antiquity. Power back then came from humans, animals, wind, or water. These simple engine were like clubs, catapults, battering rams, pulleys ext. , these types of motors were called siege engines. In medical times, water became a key source of energy for water mills. During the Industrial Revolution, the first real steam engine was built. This idea was a huge step in development for all types of motors. Steam power motors were able to provide powerful energy in areas where no water was available.

The main motor that is used today are electrical motors. This is also the type of motor I built, however there are many different forms of electrical motors. For example, there are DC Motors and AC motors. The DC motor was the earlier of the two models. This motor is created by making a electro magnetic field. The first DC motor was a simple electrostatic device created by Andrew Gordon in 1740. This was then improved by Michael Faraday in 1821, when he added the concept of an electro magnetic field. In 1827 Anyos Jedlik further improved the motor’s rotational problems by inventing the commutator. These types of motors were oringally used for printing press and machine tools. In 1888, Frank Sprague, invented a DC motor that was non sparking. He then further wen ton in inventing the first electric trolley system. Electric DC motors helped spark industrial progress, because it helped eliminate human, nature, and animal power to perform tasks. Instead these machines could handle tasks like pumping water or handling grain.  AC motors operate on the other hand by an alternating current. Like DC motors it operates on similar principals, but all of the parts are arranged in a straight line producing linear motion instead of rotation. Walter Baily was the first person to create a workable AC motor. Later on, a commutatorless AC motor was invented byFerraris and Tesla. 

first DC motor

While AC, or Alternating Current motors are more efficient than DC or direct current. Both motors work by basically positive and negative current chasing itself in a circle which never catches up to itself so the motors turn. In AC aka three phase motors, this becomes more efficient because you need lower current to do the same thing a DC motor does. However, DC motors are good because you can control the speed of them better than AC. You will find DC motors on things like rock crushers, car crushers etc. where there is a slow but constant speed needed despite the load.  A lot of your home appliances run on DC motors too.  AC motors you will find in factories because they have a faster startup speed and when you use the three phase motors they are just more efficient.