what is the purpose of the split ring commutator and why must it be used on the motor for it to work
The split ring commutator serves an essential purpose in an electric motor. Its primary function is to facilitate the reversal of the current flowing through the motor's armature coil, thus ensuring continuous rotational motion.
To understand why the split ring commutator is necessary, let's start with the basic components of a simple DC (direct current) motor. A DC motor consists of a permanent magnet, a coil of wire called the armature, and two brushes that make contact with the armature. The armature coil is responsible for generating a magnetic field as well as converting electrical energy into mechanical energy.
When an electric current flows through the armature coil, a magnetic field is created that interacts with the magnetic field of the permanent magnet, generating a force that causes the motor to rotate. However, to maintain continuous rotation, the direction of the current flowing through the armature coil must be periodically reversed.
This is where the split ring commutator comes into play. It is a segmented metal ring that is split into two separate halves, with each half connected to one end of the armature coil. The two brushes make contact with the split ring commutator, allowing electrical current to be supplied to the armature coil.
The function of the split ring commutator becomes apparent when observing its operation. As the motor spins, the brushes maintain contact with the commutator segments. However, as the armature coil rotates, the brushes encounter different segments, effectively reversing the direction of the current flow. This reversal of the current ensures that the magnetic field generated by the armature coil constantly interacts with the permanent magnet, resulting in continuous rotation of the motor.
Therefore, the split ring commutator is crucial for the motor's operation because it enables the reversal of current direction in the armature coil, allowing the motor to maintain its rotational motion. Without the split ring commutator, the motor would not be able to function properly and produce mechanical output.