How does an electric motor convert electrical energy into mechanical energy?

An electric motor converts electrical energy into mechanical energy by utilizing electromagnetic phenomena, specifically the interaction between a magnetic field and conductors carrying an electric current.1

The fundamental principle behind this operation is the Lorentz force, which is the force exerted on moving charged particles within a magnetic field. When a wire carrying an electric current is placed within a magnetic field, the magnetic force acts on the moving charges. Because these charges are confined to the conductor, the force is transferred to the wire itself.23

In a typical motor, this force is maximized when the current flows at right angles to the magnetic field. By arranging conductors and magnetic fields—often using coils on a rotor and stationary magnets or field coils on a stator—the motor generates mechanical torque. This torque causes the rotor to accelerate, effectively transforming the input electrical energy into rotational mechanical output.124