What Causes Counter EMF in Electric Motors?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the phenomenon of counter electromotive force (EMF) in electric motors, specifically exploring the reasons for its direction and its relationship to input voltage. Participants delve into concepts related to magnetic flux, Lenz's Law, and the implications of back EMF on motor operation.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant asks why the induced current, or counter EMF, is in the opposite direction to the flowing current and questions if it can be greater than the input voltage.
  • Another participant asserts that back EMF is a consequence of Lenz's Law and challenges the idea that it can be greater than the input voltage.
  • A different participant warns against misconceptions related to free energy claims, explaining that while back EMF reduces the current required to maintain motor speed, it cannot exceed the input voltage.
  • One participant uses an analogy comparing back EMF to hitting a rubber tire with a hammer, emphasizing that the reaction force cannot exceed the initial force applied.
  • Another participant connects back EMF to the Energy Conservation Law, suggesting that if back EMF were not present, motors could operate without power input.
  • A humorous anecdote is shared about a failed investment in a "no BACK EMF" motor, reinforcing skepticism towards free energy claims.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the nature of back EMF, particularly regarding its relationship to input voltage. While some agree on the principles of Lenz's Law and energy conservation, there is no consensus on the implications of these principles for the claims about back EMF being greater than input voltage.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference various assumptions about motor operation and the implications of back EMF, but these assumptions are not universally accepted or resolved within the discussion.

Tommy1995
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Okay so, when a motor spins in an external magnetic field there will be a change in the magnetic flux threading... When this magnetic flux threading is changed there will also be an induced current that is produced but why is this induced current in the opposite direction of the current that is flowing. Could someone please explain to me why the induced current, counter EMF, is in the opposite direction and why this counter EMF is greater than the input voltage?
 
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Tommy1995 said:
Okay so, when a motor spins in an external magnetic field there will be a change in the magnetic flux threading... When this magnetic flux threading is changed there will also be an induced current that is produced but why is this induced current in the opposite direction of the current that is flowing. Could someone please explain to me why the induced current, counter EMF, is in the opposite direction and why this counter EMF is greater than the input voltage?

Back EMF is just a consequence of Lentz' Law. There is no "why", it just is.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counter-electromotive_force

And the back EMF is not "greater than the input voltage". Where did you get that from?
 
@Tommy1995 just be careful as I hope you haven't been reading the "free energy"agenda stuff.
As with motor they think that the back emf produced when the rotor is spinning is atleast equal or greater then the voltage applied, so they assume that it charges back the batery which feeds the motor +they have a mechanical force that the motor exerts from it's spinning but that would violate the laws of physics and simple reality too as it would turn into a overunity perpetual motion machine.

None of that is true , a motor has ofcourse much higher starting current and when the rotor achieves significant rpm the current needed to drive the motor can drop 7 or even more times less than the current required at startup.This is due to the back emf but the back emf is never greater.So you can end up having a large motor with no load drawing only like 500mA or 1A or whatever but still it will require more to keep the rpm than you get back.

The back EMF is something like hitting a rubber tire with a hammer you apply force to the hammer then the hammer hits the tire the tire pushes back but the "kickback" of the hammer from that tire will never be greater than the first strike you made with your force otherwise you could just keep hitting tires and won't get tired yourself. :D

I hope this clears up the clouds a little bit:)
 
berkeman said:
Back EMF is just a consequence of Lentz' Law. There is no "why", it just is.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counter-electromotive_force

And the back EMF is not "greater than the input voltage". Where did you get that from?

I see it as yet another manifestation of the Energy Conservation Law - which, I suppose, also "just is". If the back emf were not 'back' then a motor would speed up without any power being supplied. We'd all want one of those!
 
Don't worry @sophiecentaur a hairy homeless looking guy in a low quality youtube video standing in his rent garage already promised me one of those "no BACK emf" motors a while ago.He also mentioned something about buddhism and uniting the world, I invested all my money in this project,just like physics laws the guy just was , yet is no more, now I'm writing this post from a public internet cafe with no shirt on.:D:D:D:D

BEWARE people free energy is a lie, thank god my story is also.
 

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