Technology
How does an electric motor work?
An electric motor works by using electricity to create magnetism, which pushes and pulls to spin a shaft. A current flows through coils inside a magnetic field, and the resulting force turns the motor — converting electrical energy into motion.
See it in motion.
Watch a 2-minute animated lesson that shows exactly how an electric motor works.
Step by step
- 1Current flowing through a coil turns it into an electromagnet.
- 2That coil sits between fixed magnets, so it's pushed and pulled.
- 3Clever switching keeps the force turning the shaft in one direction.
- 4It converts electrical energy into rotational motion.
- 5Motors run everything from fans and drills to electric cars.
Frequently asked questions
- How does an electric motor spin?
- Current makes a coil magnetic; attraction and repulsion with surrounding magnets push it around, and switching the current keeps it rotating.
- What keeps a motor turning the same way?
- A commutator or electronic controller flips the current at the right moments so the magnetic push always continues the spin.
- Is an electric motor efficient?
- Very — good motors turn well over 85% of electrical energy into motion, far more efficient than burning fuel.