( Just the basics? )Why does the armature spin continuously in both?I really do not understand , why does the current alternate in an AC generator anyways?how do the slip rings work?
The principle of operation of a dc motor is that current through a coil of wire forms an electromagnet. Lets assume the electromagnet is formed in the rotating part of the motor (rotor). that gets its power through the split rings and carbon brushes. The fixed portion of the motor(stator) is a powerful magnet. The north pole of the electromagnet will be attracted to the south pole of the fixed magnet and cause the rotor to turn. As the magnets get near alignment the split rings(commutator) remove power from that coil, and apply power to another coil that is physical wound at an angle such its north pole will continue the rotation. the rotor will contain many coils each with a pair of contacts in the commutator.
The rotor does indeed spin continuously in both. This is necessary because the interactions between rotor and stator are because of the difference between their magnetic field orientations. Slip rings let stationary contacts on the motor frame to transfer power to/from the rotor even while the rotor spins. hth.
