What phenomenon allows electric motors to convert electrical energy into mechanical energy?

Electric motors operate based on the motor effect, which is the principle that underlies the conversion of electrical energy into mechanical energy. This effect occurs when a current-carrying conductor experiences a force due to a magnetic field. In a motor, the flow of electricity creates a magnetic field around the conductor, which interacts with external magnetic fields (usually provided by permanent magnets or electromagnets). This interaction results in a force that causes the rotor of the motor to turn, producing mechanical motion.

While electromagnetic induction is a critical principle in generators and transformers for the conversion between electrical and mechanical energy, it specifically refers to generating or changing voltage due to changes in magnetic fields rather than transforming electrical energy into mechanical energy. Magnetic attraction alone does not describe the functionality of motors, as it doesn’t involve the movement of the current-carrying conductor. Similarly, electric potential relates to the energy per unit charge associated with an electric field but does not directly explain how a motor operates. Thus, the motor effect is the key phenomenon that enables the conversion of electrical energy into mechanical energy in electric motors.