How does an electric motor turn electricity into motion?

Electric motors work because an electric current in a magnetic field experiences a force. Inside the motor, this force acts on coils of wire, making the rotor turn relative to the stator. A commutator or electronic controller keeps the torque going in the same direction so the motor continues to spin. This principle was demonstrated in the early 19th century and later became the basis for countless machines, from fans to electric cars. Motors are closely related to generators; one converts electrical energy into motion, the other motion into electricity.