explore-it

...explore: investigate how your electric motor works.

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An animation with which you can investigate the interdependencies on your own
You can change the picture of the turning motor:  The invisible magnetic forces are drawn. This helps you to understand the functioning of the motor.

...explore: this is how your electric motor works An explanation of the electric motor step by step Due to its complexity we will show it to you here twice.
The first time through pay attention especially to the circuit breaker.  When does it let the current flow and when does it interrupt the current?
	The coil is at rest. The circuit breaker (black felt-tip line) is facing upwards. The safety pin is not touching the battery, so no current is flowing!
	The safety pin makes contact with the battery. Current begins to flow (red). The coil becomes an electromagnet and establishes two poles (+ / -). The pole facing the permanent magnet interacts with the electromagnet poles: Like poles repel each other. Opposing poles attract each other.
	The coil begins to turn (you might need to help it along). As it turns the circuit breaker (black line) flips to face downward ...
	... and comes to rest on the safety pin. The circuit breaker prevents electrical contact with the safety pin and the current flow is interrupted. The poles (+ / -) of the coil disappear.
	The coil’s mass causes it to continue to turn… and the circuit breaker returns to its previous upward-facing position.
	The electrical contact with the safety pin is restored - current flows again (red). The coil becomes an electromagnet and establishes two poles (+ / -). The pole facing the permanent magnet interacts with the electromagnet poles: Like poles repel each other. Opposing poles attract each other. And so on. ...
	The electric motor is running ...
The second example pays particular attention to the poles of the electromagnet (+/-): When are they established, when do they disappear, and why does the coil rotate?
	The coil is at rest. The circuit breakers (black felt-tip line) is facing upwards. The safety pin is not touching the battery , so no current is flowing!
	The safety pin makes contact with the battery. Current begins to flow (red). The coil becomes an electromagnet and establishes two poles (+ / -). The pole facing the permanent magnet interacts with the electromagnet poles: Like poles repel each other. Opposing poles attract each other.
	The coil begins to turn (you might need to help it along). As it turns the circuit breaker (black line) flips to face downward...
	... and comes to rest on the safety pin. The circuit breaker prevents electrical contact with the safety pin and the current flow is interrupted. The poles (+ / -) of the coil disappear.
	The coil’s mass causes it to continue to turn… and the circuit breaker returns to its previous upward-facing position.
	The electrical contact with the safety pin is restored - current flows again (red). The coil becomes an electromagnet and establishes two poles (+ / -). The pole facing the permanent magnet interacts with the electromagnet poles: Like poles repel each other. Opposing poles attract each other. And so on. ...
	The electric motor is running ....