Moving Things
Electrical energy can also be converted to mechanical energy (motion). Electric motors are very similar to the generators in power stations. Instead of using motion to produce electricity, they use electricity to produce motion. By sending an electric current through the wires in a generator the magnets can be made to spin. Some electric motors keep the magnets stationary. When an electric current is passed through wires arranged inside the magnets the wires spin around. This rotary motion has many uses.
Refrigerators use an electric motor to drive a compressor. As gas is compressed (squeezed) it heats up. Gas in refrigerator pipes is compressed by a compressor and then allowed to cool down and turn into a liquid. The pressure of the liquid is reduced before it enters pipes inside the refrigerator. The liquid absorbs heat and turns back into a gas. It then returns to the compressor to repeat the cycle. Heat pumps work in a similar fashion, they provide cool air in summer and warm air in winter.
Electric motors are used to turn the wheels of industry and operate a range of labour saving devices in our homes. Washing machines, vacuum cleaners, clothes dryers and food processors are some examples.
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