Everything Science Grade 12

13.2 CHAPTER 13. ELECTRODYNAMICS

N S

brush

slip ring

slip ring

slip ring (front view)

coil

magnet magnet

AC

source

Figure 13.6: Layout of an alternating current motor.

If the current is DC, split-ring commutators arerequired to create a DCmotor. This is
shown in Figure 13.7.

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split ring

brush brush

split ring commutator

Figure 13.7: Layout of adirect current motor.

Real-life applications ESCFV

Cars

A car contains an alternator that charges its battery and powers the car’s electric system
when its engine is running. Alternators have the great advantage overdirect-current