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HSC Physics

Motors and Generators


Week 7

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HSC Physics
Motors and Generators

Week 7 Theory
Motors are used in industries and the home usually to convert electrical
energy into more useful forms of energy.

Describe the main features of an AC electric motor

We have already studied a simple AC motor (the type which uses slip rings and permanent magnets).
This section will introduce 2 new types of AC motors that have not been previously discussed.
The Universal Motor (simple AC motor)
The universal motor is very similar to a DC motor, except it uses slip rings, and the magnetic field is
produced by electromagnets in the same circuit as the rotor coils, in series (this is important).

Rotor:
The universal motors rotor contains coils wound around a laminated armature (to minimise power
loss via eddy currents, because AC is used). Slip-ring commutators are used to connect the rotor to
the external circuit.
Stator:
Electromagnets are used to produce the magnetic field. These electromagnets are connected in the
same circuit as the rotor, such that the same phase is powering both the rotor and the
electromagnets.
Since AC is used, the current direction is constantly changing. Whenever the current direction
changes, the polarity of the electromagnets reverse, but at the same time, the current in the coils
reverse as well. This simultaneous double-reversal allows the coils torque to be in a constant
direction. Basically, if the you reverse the current direction in the coil AND the magnetic field
direction at the same time, the coil still experiences torque in the same direction as before the
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HSC Physics
Motors and Generators

reversal. This is the reason why the electromagnets must be in the same circuit as the coil, and use
the same AC phase, because the timing of the reversals must match.

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HSC Physics
Motors and Generators

Induction motor
AC induction motors have no coil on the rotor and current is not fed directly into the rotor. Instead,
the alternating current flowing through the stator induces a current in the rotor. The interaction of
the magnetic fields of the induced current and the initial alternating current produces torque on the
rotor. AC induction motors can be single phase or three phase, however, the single phase motors are
difficult to start, similar to single phase simple AC motors.
The squirrel cage motor, the most common type of AC induction motor, is used in power drills, hair
dryers, food processors and many other appliances.
Rotor
The rotor, similar in structure to a squirrel cage, is made of copper or aluminium rods connected by
two metallic rings on the ends. These rings short circuit the rods, enabling current to flow from one
rod to any other rod. The rotor usually has a laminated, soft iron core that is electrically insulated
from the squirrel cage, as shown in the right diagram. The core intensifies the magnetic field which
helps to produce a larger induced current and therefore increases the torque.

Stator
The stator of an induction motor consists of one or more sets of coils, each wound around an iron
core. The number of coils depends on how many phases the motor has. Each set of coils consists of
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HSC Physics
Motors and Generators

two electrically-linked coils that are located on opposite sides of the stator. The diagram below
shows a three-phase motor which has three sets of coils mounted at angles of 120 to each other.
Since the mains electrical supply is three-phased, (composed of three sets of voltage signals that are
out of phase with each other by 120), each set of coils is connected to a different phase of the
electrical supply.

The stators coils set up a rotating magnetic field inside, of the same frequency as the electrical
supply (50 Hz in Australia). This rotating field over the metal rods results in relative motion between
a conductor and magnetic field. By Lenzs Law, the squirrel cage chases the rotating magnetic field
in order to oppose the changing magnetic field. When the cage reaches the same speed as the
magnetic field (50 Hz = 3000 rpm), the cage will continue to spin at that rate.
If there is a load, the cage will slow down slightly, causing the cage to want to catch up according to
Lenzs Law. The difference in cage speed and the field speed is called slippage. The more slippage
there is, the more torque will be applied to the cage. However if there is too much slippage, the cage
might suddenly lose synchronisation, and therefore lose all torque. This is one disadvantage of
induction motors.

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HSC Physics
Motors and Generators

Perform an investigation to demonstrate the principle of an AC induction motor

This dot-point requires students to be able to recall an experiment they did in class which models
the operation of an AC induction motor. This is achievable using a magnet, string and pie lid.
Method
A small aluminium pie lid was balanced on a needle-like support (a skewer can be used). Using a
retort stand and a long length of string, a bar magnet was suspended slightly above the aluminium
surface. The bar magnet was physically rotated in order to twist the string. Once the string had been
twisted many times, the bar magnet was released, allowing it to spin freely as the string untwisted.
Observations of the effect of the spinning magnet on the aluminium dish were made.
The diagram does not show the retort stand and the string that connected the retort stand to the
magnet.

Results and analysis


The rotating magnet caused the pie plate to rotate in the same direction. Due to Lenzs Law, the pie
lid chases up with the magnets rotation in order to oppose the rotating magnetic field. This is
basically how an AC induction motor works, except in this experiment, we have modelled 1 phase,
whereas an AC induction motor would use 3 or more phases.
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HSC Physics
Motors and Generators

Gather, process and analyse information to identify some of the energy transfers and
transformations involving the conversion of electrical energy into more useful forms in the
home and industry

Electrical energy can be readily transformed into other forms of energy include light, heat, kinetic
and sound energy.
Electrical to light energy
The conversion of electrical to light energy occurs in light globes, computer monitors and
televisions. Electrical energy is also converted to other electromagnetic radiation such as
microwaves in microwave ovens, radio waves for communication, and x-rays and gamma rays for
medical applications.
Electrical to heat energy
The conversion of electrical to heat energy occurs in cooking, hair dryers, hot water systems and
heaters. Televisions, loudspeakers, radios and CD players all utilise the conversion of electrical
energy to sound energy.
Electrical to kinetic energy
Electrical energy is often converted to kinetic energy. Examples include power tools such as electric
saws and drills, and household appliances such as fans, sew machines, washing machines and
blenders.
Note that energy is not always converted to useful energy. For example, inefficiencies in all
appliances are always present, and lead to converting electrical energy into heat energy, but this is
not deemed useful energy.

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HSC Physics
Motors and Generators

Week 7 Homework

1.

Describe the main features of an AC electric motor


Explain why in universal motors, the electromagnet must be in the same circuit and phase
as the coil current? [3 marks]

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2.

Explain why a universal motor can be powered by AC and DC. [2 marks]

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3.

Compare the simple AC motor to a universal motor. [2 marks]

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4.

Compare the simple AC motor to the simple AC generator. [3 marks]

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HSC Physics
Motors and Generators

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5.

Explain why the simple AC motor has zero starting torque. Describe how an AC motor is
started. [3 marks]

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6.

Explain the role of the laminated iron core of the rotor in an AC motor. [2 marks]

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7.

Identify the differences between a simple AC motor and an AC induction motor. [3 marks]

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HSC Physics
Motors and Generators
8.

Describe the rotor of an AC induction motor. [2 marks]

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9.

Describe the stator of an AC induction motor. [3 marks]

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10. Explain how an AC induction motor works. [3 marks]
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HSC Physics
Motors and Generators

10

11. State whether or not an AC induction motor requires a commutator. Explain why or why
not. [2 marks]
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12. Outline the advantages AC induction motors have over simple AC and DC motors. [2
marks]
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13. Explain why both the simple AC motor and the AC induction motor run at a constant speed.
[3 marks]
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HSC
SC Physics
Motors and Generators

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14. [2004 HSC] The photograph below shows parts of an AC electric motor. Describe the main
features of this type of motor and its operation. [3 marks]

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1.

Perform an investigation to demonstrate the principle of an AC induction motor


Outline the method you used to demonstrate the principle of an AC induction motor.
Include a labelled diagram. [3 marks]

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HSC Physics
Motors and Generators

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Explain the observations you made. [3 marks]

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1.

Gather, process and analyse information to identify some of the energy transfers and
transformations involving the conversion of electrical energy into more useful forms in the
home and industry
Describe some of the energy transfers and transformations involving the conversion of
electrical energy into more useful forms in the home and industry. [3 marks]

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.
.
.
.
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HSC Physics
Motors and Generators
2.

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Describe some situations where electrical energy is converted into unwanted forms of
energy. An example would be the sound energy of electric drills. [3 marks]

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End of homework

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