Final answer:
Electric motors transform electrical energy into mechanical motion through the interaction of current-carrying wire loops and a magnetic field, which generates torque to spin a shaft. Key components facilitating this process include the commutator and brushes, which reverse the current to maintain continuous torque and motion.
Step-by-step explanation:
Electric motors are devices that convert electrical energy into mechanical motion. The essential parts of an electric motor include the armature or the rotor, brushes, a commutator, and a field magnet. An electric current flows through the wire loops in a magnetic field within the motor, causing a force to be exerted on the loops. This force is known as a torque which causes the loops, and thus the rotor, to spin.
When the rotor spins, it creates mechanical work. As the loops rotate so that their surface area aligns with the magnetic field, the current is reversed through the action of a commutator and brushes, ensuring continual motion with the same directional torque applied to the loop.
The reversal of the current avoids dead spots in the motion where there would be no torque, allowing the motor to maintain a consistent speed and performance. Therefore, an electric motor essentially transforms the electrical energy supplied into it into mechanical energy, thereby generating motion which can be harnessed for various applications.