Electric Motors: How Electricity Creates Motion

An electric motor turns electrical energy into mechanical motion.
It works by running current through coils inside a magnetic field.
The interaction between current and magnetic field creates a force called torque.
This torque spins a rotor, producing continuous motion.
Small motors power fans, toys, and tools, while huge ones drive trains and factories.
Direct current (DC) motors use brushes and commutators to keep current flowing the right way.
Alternating current (AC) motors rely on changing current to keep spinning smoothly.
Motors and generators are opposites—one turns motion into electricity, the other electricity into motion.
Efficiency improvements in motors save enormous amounts of global energy.
From elevators to electric cars, motors are the hidden muscle of modern technology.