DC Current Electricity

and

Magnetism
in

Electrical Conductors

Electric Field
An Electric Field or Force Surrounding a Charged Particle

An electric field radiates outward from a positive charge and radiates in toward a negative point charge.

Current Electricity
The movement of Electric Charges is called Current. Current is measured by the amount of charge (Coulombs) passing through the cross-sectional area of a conductor in a given period of time (Seconds). A Conventional Current flows from a positive battery terminal to a negative battery terminal.

Electric Fields Drive Current Electricity

Conventional Current
Anion Cation

Assumes Charge Flows from Positive to Negative

Current Electricity

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Batteries use electrochemical reactions to produce dissimilar charges used to create current in DC motors and circuits.

Ions contain CHARGES that create electric fields

Current Electricity
The electric field produced in a battery forces current through an electric circuit or conductor connected across the battery poles,

+ + + +

+
+

+
+

Ions contain CHARGES that create electric fields. These opposite electric fields produce imbalanced forces necessary to move the charges through the circuit.

+
+

+
+ + + +

+
+

+
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A current created by the unidirectional movement of charge(s) through a conductor is called a direct current. This current is produced by all batteries

Positive Battery Terminal

Negative Battery Terminal

Magnetic Field Lines

When current moves through a conductor a circular magnetic field is induced around the conductor

The Right Hand Rule

The direction of the magnetic field surrounding the conductor can be found using your right hand

Position the thumb of your right hand pointing in the direction of conventional current (Positive to Negative) and your fingers will wrap around the conductor in the direction of the induced magnetic field.

The Direction and Motion of an Induced Magnetic Field in a Conductor

Current Coming Towards You

Current Moving Away From You

Current and Magnetism in a Coil

When current moves through a coiled conductor a circular magnetic field is induced about the coil

Motor (armature) rotation is caused by the simultaneous attraction and repulsion between the electromagnetic field in the armature and a fixed magnetic field

Armature

Fixed Magnets

A Conductor in a Fixed Magnetic Field

A Current Carrying Conductor in a Fixed Magnetic Field

Force

Fixed Magnetic Field Induced Magnetic Field (Due to current)

A Motor Armature in a Fixed Magnetic Field

N
Direction of Force (Torque) acting to turn the Armature (Conductor)

The magnetic field surrounding a current carrying conductor interacts with an existing magnetic field.

Fleming's Left Hand (Motor) Rule

Thumb = Direction of Conductor Motion Fore Finger = Direction of Fixed Magnetic Field (N to S)

Middle Finger = Conventional Current Direction

Determines the direction of DC current carrying conductor in a fixed magnetic field

Fleming's Left Hand (Motor) Rule

Direction of Rotation

Fixed Magnetic Field Direction

Conventional Current Direction

Use the Left Hand Rule to Determine the Rotation Direction of the Armatures in A and B
Hint: You will have to turn your left hand upside down for example A

N
B
Notice that when the current through the armature is reversed, it moves (Rotates) in the opposite direction

S N

Magnetic Forces Acting on Parallel Current Carrying Conductors

Two parallel conductors carrying current in the same direction will attract each other

Magnetic Forces Acting on Parallel Current Carrying Conductors

North Two parallel conductors carrying currents in opposite directions will repel each other, and they will set up a polarized magnetic field between themselves.

South

Magnetic Forces Acting on Parallel Current Carrying Conductors

South South

North
North Wrapping current carrying conductors around an iron core creates an electro magnet

The Armature of a Brush Commutated DC Motor is made up of Current Carrying Conductors Wrapped Around an Iron Core

The Motor Armature is an electro Magnet and Operates according to the Principles Described in this Slide Show

The

End