How does the field turn the rotor?

It induces currents that make the rotor follow

What is named the tesla in physics?

A unit of magnetic flux density

Rotating Magnetic Field Quiz: Tesla's Induction Motor Idea

This rotating magnetic field quiz spins a motor without brushes. Play 10 interactive questions on Tesla's idea in a Budapest park in 1882, alternating currents out of step with each other, a field that turns and drags a rotor, the brushless induction motor, 1888 patents, George Westinghouse buying them, Galileo Ferraris's parallel work and the tesla unit.

Start Rotating Magnetic Field Quiz

🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 150 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 150s

Idea
Where did Tesla say the idea came to him?
Field
What creates a rotating magnetic field?
Motor
Which motor uses this idea?
Brush
What does an induction motor not need?
Drag
How does the field turn the rotor?
Patents
When did Tesla patent his AC motor ideas?
Buyer
Who bought Tesla's AC patents?
Ferraris
Which Italian scientist developed a similar idea independently?
Unit
What is named the tesla in physics?
War
Which rivalry pitted AC against DC?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: Where did Tesla say the idea came to him?
Answer: A park in Budapest
In 1882.
Q2: What creates a rotating magnetic field?
Answer: Alternating currents out of step with each other
Polyphase AC.
Q3: Which motor uses this idea?
Answer: The AC induction motor
Common in industry.
Q4: What does an induction motor not need?
Answer: Brushes and a commutator
Fewer parts to wear.
Q5: How does the field turn the rotor?
Answer: It induces currents that make the rotor follow
Electromagnetic induction.
Q6: When did Tesla patent his AC motor ideas?
Answer: 1888
Several patents.
Q7: Who bought Tesla's AC patents?
Answer: George Westinghouse
An AC champion.
Q8: Which Italian scientist developed a similar idea independently?
Answer: Galileo Ferraris
Around the same time.
Q9: What is named the tesla in physics?
Answer: A unit of magnetic flux density
In the SI system.
Q10: Which rivalry pitted AC against DC?
Answer: The War of the Currents
Edison favored DC.

A Field That Spins

Nikola Tesla said the idea of a rotating magnetic field came to him in a Budapest park in 1882. Alternating currents fed to coils out of step with each other, called polyphase AC, create a magnetic field that rotates.

The rotating field induces currents in a rotor, which then follows the field and spins. This is the AC induction motor, which needs no brushes or commutator, so it has fewer parts to wear out and became common in industry.

Tesla patented his AC motor ideas in 1888, and George Westinghouse bought the patents, championing AC during the War of the Currents against Thomas Edison's DC. Italian scientist Galileo Ferraris developed a similar idea independently. The SI unit of magnetic flux density is named the tesla.

What This Quiz Teaches

Science fans will enjoy these questions.

Where the idea began
How the field forms
How the motor works
Who bought the patents
How Tesla is honored

Did You Know?

Washing machines often use induction motors.
Electric cars use related motors.
Niagara Falls power used AC.
Tesla later worked on wireless power.
AC won the War of the Currents.