Story Five Physics - Electromagnetism
Electric current running in a wire produces a magnetic field capable of exerting a magnetic force. Conversely, moving a wire in a magnetic field induces an electric current in the wire. Electric motors use the first phenomenon to generate forces that drive mechanical motion, and electric generators use the latter phenomenon to generate electrical current from mechanical motion. Today’s electric cars typically utilize both phenomena.
How the physics is depicted
The eel-like creature, called an Amp, represents electrical current moving through a wire. The rotating motion of the sea-snake-like creature, called a Flux, represents a magnetic field. In response to the Amp swimming forward, the Flux swims circles around the Amp, which is analogous to how a motor uses current to generate a magnetic field that drives mechanical motion. In response to the Flux swimming circles around the Amp, the Amp is compelled to swim forward, which is analogous to how a generator uses a rotating magnetic field to produce electrical current.
More than you wanted to know …
An ampere, typically shortened to “amp”, is a unit of measurement for electrical current, while magnetic flux is a measurement of the total magnetic field that passes through an area.
Planet Faraday is named for Michael Faraday, an English scientist who contributed to the study of electromagnetism and electrochemistry. His discovery of a phenomenon he called “electromagnetic motion” can be considered the first electric motor. His work on electromagnetic induction included construction of a simple electrical generator.
The Maxwellian Sea is named for James Clerk Maxwell, a Scottish mathematician and scientist responsible for developing Maxwell’s Equations, a set of four equations that describe the behavior of electric and magnetic fields and how they relate to each other.