Motor

Article By:

McPherson, George, Jr. Department of Electrical Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri.

Masson, Philippe J. Center for Advanced Power Systems, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida.

Dale, Steinar J. Center for Advanced Power Systems, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida.

Last reviewed:August 2022

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.436100

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• Motor, published December 2019:Download PDF Get Adobe Acrobat Reader

A machine that converts electrical energy into mechanical energy. Motors that develop rotational mechanical motion are most common, but linear motors are also used. A rotary motor delivers mechanical power by means of a rotating shaft extending from one or both ends of its enclosure. The shaft is attached internally to a moving component called the rotor. Shaft bearings permit the rotor to turn freely. The rotor is mounted coaxially with the stationary part, or stator, of the motor. The small space between the rotor and the stator is called the air gap, even though fluids other than air may be used to fill this gap in certain applications. Fig. 1 shows a typical electric motor, while Fig. 2 illustrates the relationship between the rotor, stator, air gap and shaft. See also: Air; Electricity; Energy; Fluids; Power

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