The Difference Between Dynamos and Motors
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Mar 16, 2010 - 7:51:11 PM
In this essay, I will discuss the differences between dynamos and motors. Both dynamos and motors have the same basic ideas. They both use electromagnets and they both involve magnets.
I will now explain the basic principles of a motor. To allow a motor to work, you need to have an electromagnet. This consists of a coil of wire wrapped around an iron rod. If both ends of the wire are attached to the positive and negative ends of a battery, it will make the iron rod magnetic, giving it a north and south pole. If a permanent magnet is placed so that the north pole of the magnet is beside the south pole of the electromagnet, and the south pole of the magnet is by the north pole of the magnet, the electromagnet will not move. However, if the battery is turned around, the north and south poles of the electromagnet would be reversed. Then, the south poles would be together and the north poles would be together. The electromagnet would therefore spin 180 degrees because opposites attract and the same poles repel. If the battery was turned again, the electromagnet would spin again. If the battery was changed regularly at exactly the right time, the electromagnet would spin continually. This makes the motor spin.
A motor takes electricity and converts it into movement. A dynamo has the same basic principle but reversed. It takes movement from things such as wind turbines and converts it into electricity.
Firstly, the electromagnet causes a magnetic field. A dynamo takes the movement energy from the wind turbines and causes the wires to move inside the magnetic field. The movement of wires in a magnetic field makes electricity which moves down the wires and can then be stored.
In conclusion, dynamos and motors use the same principles. They both use electromagnets and use their magnetic fields to work. However, while a motor takes in electricity and produces movement, dynamos take in the energy from the movement of such things as wind turbines and use it to create electricity.
Ayesha, Year Eight