Physics · GCSE · Electricity & Magnetism
How an electric motor spins
ph5Free4:00Heddy Score 2 of 7, below the standardPlays from youtube-nocookie.com. No YouTube cookies until you press play.
What you need to know
- The two sides of a coil carry current in opposite directions, so they are pushed opposite ways and the coil turns.
- A split-ring commutator reverses the current every half turn so the coil keeps turning the same way.
- More current, a stronger field or more turns make the motor spin faster.
In this clip
Heddy ScoreSeven checks every clip must pass before students see it: trusted, on the map, accurate, focused, accessible, safe, and proven by students.2/7, Below the standard
- Trusted source · passed. The creator's own upload, live and playable here.
- On the map · not judged yet. A teacher watched it: it mainly teaches this map topic.
- Spec-true · not judged yet. Accurate, and right for the current UK specification.
- Focused · passed. One idea, short enough to watch in one go.
- Accessible · not judged yet. Good captions, clear sound and pictures.
- Safe for children · not judged yet. Right for 11 to 16 year olds, with no sales pitch.
- Proven · not judged yet. Earned from our students: they learn from it, find it helpful and watch it to the end.
Our students
How the Heddy Score worksNot enough students yet
Our own students' answers. These are what move ★7 Proven.Why we picked it
Cognito lesson on how a DC electric motor works, including the split-ring commutator; GCSE.
Cognito on YouTubechecked 2026-10-16