ferroelectric fluids tagged posts

How an overlooked electrostatic force could drive the motor of the future

An overlooked electrostatic force drives the motor of the future
Prototype plastic ferroelectric motor (Left: angled view; Right: bottom view with the lower electrode removed to reveal the resin rotor) Credit: Professor Suzushi Nishimura

When we hear about moving objects with electricity, most of us imagine a “pulling force.” Positive and negative charges attract each other, drawing objects together. It is natural to think that this attractive force—known as electrostatic force—is what makes things move.

However, this force is not very strong, and it has not been suitable for driving large machines in our daily lives. For that reason, most practical motors rely on a different mechanism. For example, the motors in electric fans and electric vehicles do not use electricity directly to create motion...

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