Uploaded February 2012 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
The forces on the wire segments of the current loop in an electric motor depends upon the geometry of the loop (relative to the magnetic field) as well as the direction of the current. This animation illustrates those forces and the role of the commutator in switching the current direction so that torque on the loop continues to keep the loop spinning. (Note the direction of each of the side forces is reversed. This error is corrected in the revised version of this animation)
The forces on the wire segments of the current loop in an electric motor depends upon the geometry of the loop (relative to the magnetic field) as well as the direction of the current. This animation illustrates those forces and the role of the commutator in switching the current direction so that torque on the loop continues to keep the loop spinning. (Note the direction of each of the side forces is reversed. This error is corrected in the revised version of this animation)
