The DC Motor

The DC motor converts electrical energy from a power source into kinetic energy. Most designs
produce kinetic energy in the form of torque in a spinning coil.

This effect is best understood by looking at the motion of the spinning coil at various stages in its
motion (see Positions 1 to 5).

The magnets create a magnetic field with flux density traveling from North to South.

Figure 1: The DC Motor

Axis of rotation Field Magnets NOTE: The right hand rule used to
Armature
determine the direction of motion of
the armature is based on conventional
current. This is current flowing from
the positive terminal to the negative
terminal.

S
N

Split ring commutator

Brushes

Power Supply

Power supply: Provides electrical energy to the circuit (DC)

Brushes: Connect the external circuit to the moving armature, ensuring external circuit wires do not
tangle. They touch/slide against the split ring commutator without moving with it.

Split ring commutator: Rotates with the axle and armature. Ensures current is passing through
armature in correct direction to enable continuous rotation of the axle. Enables the direction of
current through the coil to be reversed every 180 o of rotation.

Field magnets: Provide B field

Armature: Current flows through armature within the B field, inducing a force (see right hand rule).
The armature consists of the coil and split ring commutator. It spins on an axle.

Axle: The axle is the hardware that connects the split ring commutator and armature, and is the axis
of rotation.

The force produced by the interaction of the current and the magnetic field creates a torque (
tau, a twisting force).
 =Fd
Where F is the force (Newtons) and d is the distance from the armature to the centre of the axle
(meters). The units of Torque are Newton meters (Nm)

The Force on a current carrying wire can be calculated using Faradays Law:

F=B . I . L . sin
The torque of the motor can be calculated as below.

Maximum torque max =B . A . I . N

Torque at any armature/coil position =B . A . I . N . cos

Where

B is the magnetic flux density of the field

A is the area of the armature
I is the current in the armature
N is the number of coils
is the angle of the armature relative to the magnetic field

Stages of motion:
Position 1 ( =0 )

The coil is horizontal at this point. Conventional current is flowing anticlockwise throughout the
circuit (from the positive terminal to the negative terminal). The magnetic flux flows from North Pole
to South Pole (left to right).

Using the right hand rule, the interaction of the current and magnetic flux induces a downwards
force on the red side of the armature, and an upwards force on the black side of the armature.

The overall effect is for the armature to spin in a clockwise direction.

=B . A . I . N . cos 0=B . A . I . N= max

Position 2 ( =45 )

Conventional current is flowing anticlockwise throughout the circuit (from the positive terminal to
the negative terminal). The magnetic flux flows from North Pole to South Pole (left to right).

Using the right hand rule, the interaction of the current and magnetic flux induces a downwards
force on the black side of the armature, and an upwards force on the red side of the armature.

The overall effect is for the armature to continue to spin in a clockwise direction.

=B . A . I . N . cos 45= . B . A . I . N 0.71 . max

2
2

Position 3 ( =90 )
The coil is vertical at this point. The split ring commutator is not in contact with the external circuit,
meaning that no current is flowing through the armature. As a result, there is no force on the
armature for a brief period of time.

The momentum of the armature allows the armature to move through this position in a clockwise
direction.

=B . A . I . N . cos 90=0
Position 4 ( =135 , use 45 due split ring commutator )

Conventional current is flowing anticlockwise throughout the circuit. (from the positive terminal to
the negative terminal). Note how due to the split ring commutator, the current has been reversed in
terms of each side of the armature. The black side of the armature now has current going into the
page and the red side of the armature now has current going out of the page. Before the split ring
commutator changed things, the black side had current coming out of the page and the red side had
it going into the page. The magnetic flux continues to flow from North Pole to South Pole (left to
right).

Using the right hand rule, the interaction of the current and magnetic flux now induces a downwards
force on the black side armature, and an upwards force on the red side of the armature. The overall
effect is for the armature to continue to spin in a clockwise direction.

=B . A . I . N . cos 135= . B . A . I . N 0.71. max

2
2
Position 5 ( =180 , use 0 due split ring commutator )

The coil is once again horizontal at this point. Conventional current is flowing anticlockwise
throughout the circuit (from the positive terminal to the negative terminal). The magnetic flux flows
from North Pole to South Pole (left to right).

Using the right hand rule, the interaction of the current and magnetic flux induces a downwards
force on the black side of the armature, and an upwards force on the red side of the armature. (Note
that due to the rotation of the axle these are now the opposite sides of the armature to position 1)

The overall effect is for the armature to spin in a clockwise direction.

=B . A . I . N . cos 0=B . A . I . N= max

This process cycles with the current being reversed in the coil/armature by the split ring commutator
every 180o of rotation, ensuring that the motor has a continuous rotation in the clockwise direction.

How to create a larger Torque

The formula for maximum torque is max =B . A . I . N . The following measures could be taken to
increase the maximum torque:

Increase the strength of the magnetic field

Increase the area of the armature
Increase the current flowing through the coil
Increase the number of coils
 Proportion of maximum Torque Torque of DC motor
1

0.75

0.5

0.25

0
0 45 90 135 180
Angle of coil relative to magnetic flux (degrees)

The graph of the torque of the motor is a cos graph with the negative torque inverted (flipped to
positive) due to the split ring commutator.

To overcome this inconsistent torque output, motor designers can include multiple coils that are
angularly displaced from one another on the axle or multiple surrounding magnet pairs that are
angularly displaced from one another. This has the effect of superimposing several of these torque
curves over each other. The net result is a smoother torque output or torque ripple.
 (Front-on diagram of motor)
Axle

Split ring commutator

Brushes: stay still

while commutator
Coil: black side attached and coil rotate
to black half of
commutator, red side
attached to red half of
commutator