Also, sp
lit rings are used in motors and s
lip rings are used in generators. What are the differences between the 2? (besides the fact one is used only for DC motors the other is used in generators) What are the functions of each? How do they exactly work?
Many thanks!
EDIT: Okay, I think I know what they do now, can anyone check if my understanding of these 2 devices are correct?
1. Split rings
Split rings are used in DC motors. They are connected to the coils so they can spin with them. Their purpose is to connect to the opposite terminal, so if one half of the split ring was connected to the -ve terminal and the other half was connected to the +ve then each time the coil is rotated into 90 degree position (ie, when it's vertical), the 2 halfs of the split ring would now be connected to its opposite terminals. As a result the current is now reversed so the net torque is still in its original direction (If it was clockwise, it would continue to be clockwise) hence the coil would still rotate in its original direction.
2. Slip rings
Slip rings are used in generators. They act like "terminals" of a battery. During a period of time when the coil is being rotated, one slip ring (let's call this P) would act as the +ve terminal and the other slip ring (let's call it Q) would act as the -ve terminal. Then as the coil continues to rotate, P would act as the -ve terminal and Q would act as the +ve terminal. What kind of terminal the 2 slip rings would act can easily be determined using Lenz Law and finding the direction of current flow (a diagram would be much easier to explain this). This means the current is reversed after a certain period of time hence it also explains why generators only produce AC current (due to the reversal of current).
Thanks
