PHYSICS CRITERION D – ELECTROSTATIC MOTOR 1

Physics Criterion D – Reflecting on the impacts of science: Electrostatic motors

PHYSICS CRITERION D – ELECTROSTATIC MOTOR 2

Physics Criterion D – Reflecting on the impacts of science: Electrostatic motors

There are many things that energy is required for, from a respiratory system to every
single device ever used: through different forms of energy, the world moves. Unfortunately, as
we developed, it was decided that hydrocarbon fuels such as oil should become the primary
source of energy. These all produce Carbon when burned. Carbon- based gases are the most
prominent of many “greenhouse gases” (GHGs,) which affect the flow of heat energy in the
atmosphere. Generally, sunlight and the heat energy hit the ground and partially reflect back out
of the atmosphere, through radiation, with the atmosphere only providing a barrier to harmful
rays. However, GHGs create a “heat blanket,” causing these rays to keep reflecting to and from
the barrier, and gradually raise the temperature of the earth’s surface. This leads to ice shelves
melting, leading to a rise in water levels and essentially destroying life (Nyandieka, 2015).
Unfortunately, as
countries have
developed, emissions
have also increased: over
the last 100 years,
emissions have risen
from <1000 metric
tonnes to nearly 10000

each year, as shown in Figure 1: Graph showing increase in global carbon emissions over the last 110 years (EPA, 2016)

figure 1 (EPA, 2016).

Much of this carbon is emitted by motors. When petrol is burned inside engines, the
molecules of hydrogen and carbon in them are separated into separate atoms through
combustion. This releases heat energy, which is utilised as kinetic energy. Unfortunately, these
motors are horrible towards the environment. They are being used in industries, electrical and
water supplying and in transportation, particularly in cars and aeroplanes, and contribute 60% of
global CO2 emissions (EPA, 2016).
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Fortunately, a solution has been created: the

electrostatic motor. Although this has gained popularity
recently, it is the result of a patent filed by Brown
Technologies in 1930. This patent states “this invention
relates to a method of producing force of motion by
applying and maintaining high potential electro-static
charges in a system of chargeable masses and associated
electrodes” (United States Patent No. US1974483, 1930).
This design had many problems: it could produce very little
power, and, because the electrodes were cuboidal and didn't
connect with one another except in one point, when a charge
was sent through the motor, a lot of the energy produced is
turned into heat energy, and thus, very little electrical energy

is actually produced. This doesn’t even include the huge Figure 2: Diagram of 1930s Electrostatic motor
(United States Patent No. US1974483, 1930)

amount of friction produced as the parts of the motor move,

shown in figures 2 and 3.
This design has been modified in recent times. The
motor has three parts: a shaft, which connects the motor to
the rest of the electrical circuit, a rotor and a stator. The
latter two are circular and contain electrodes, organised in a
ladder manner, preventing the occurrence of friction. As
well as this, there are only 2 circular electrodes in each
prong of the rotor and stator, and therefore, it is 95%
efficient, with the only heat energy being from the moving
parts themselves
This motor is operated through alternating charges
between the electrodes in the motor and stator. As shown in Figure 3: Diagram no. 2 of 1930s Electrostatic
motor (United States Patent No. US1974483,
figure 4 on the next page, the electrodes on each prong of 1930)

the stator come in pairs: The first pair has a polarity, with
the second having the opposite polarity. Therefore, when a charge passes through the motor, it
PHYSICS CRITERION D – ELECTROSTATIC MOTOR 4

leads to the energy passing through the different ends of the

motor, and because of the repulsion, the rotor moves in a direction
while the stator stays in its place, and, with the rotor being
positioned above the stator, there is minimal friction (Shinsei
Corporation, 2007).
The charging of the motor is by conduction. When a high
charge is sent through the circuit, the electrodes work in a similar
manner to an electroscope: the negative electrons sent through the
motor make their respective electrodes repel each other, causing
the rotor to move. The electrons also travel to the positive
electrodes, making them neutral and preventing them from being
a hindrance. Once the electrons stop flowing, the rotor stops
moving, as there is no excess charge: the negative and positive
electrodes on the rotor and stator respectively attract, and stop
moving.
There are many economic implications to this invention. A
positive is the cost of running a car with it. On average, a driver
spends 14p per mile (The AA, 2014). Take into account the fact Figure 3: Diagram of how a modern electrostatic
motor works (Shinsei Corporation, 2007)
that each person, on average, drives 6,691 miles per year, and this
is a cost of nearly £1000 (UK Government, 2013). Drivers of electric cars merely have to charge
the car from an AC outlet, and it is just added to the electricity bill a person has. Many petrol
stations also offer electric charging units that cost less than that of petrol. On the other hand, a
negative is the actual cost of the cars that use this technology. For example, the Tesla Model S, a
commonly-known electric car, which utilises an electrostatic motor, costs $70,000 (Google,
2016). This is a very high price compared to some cars, which cost <$20,000, and this puts a
financial strain on customers.
A positive is that it is more effective in generator use. Petrol generators require the
building of a cordoned-off area, installation, and petrol to run it. There are also a lot more
breakable parts and pistons, which are expensive. This motor has less parts and only requires its
connections, and is cheaper. Unfortunately, though, high charges are still required to make this
work, and in vehicles such as cars, many have to use hybrid engines, which require the costs of
PHYSICS CRITERION D – ELECTROSTATIC MOTOR 5

both the electrostatic and petrol engine. Even though the car itself costs little, the running cost is
high.
A third positive is that less energy is used. Much of the energy in petrol engines is
converted into heat energy, which is wasted. This means that they are a lot less efficient, and,
ultimately, refuelling is required more often. This costs more. Modern electrostatic motors are
proven to be 95% efficient, and are cheaper. They even have been proven to “out-perform” petrol
engines, which makes it an ideal motor for customers financially (Drives and Controls Magazine,
2014). Finally, a negative is that, when used in circumstances such as generators, they provide a
cost to electricity bills, and, with premiums for power increasing as resources dwindle, this
increases electricity costs exponentially.
Overall, this is an effective solution, particularly in industry and transportation. Many
companies are using this or similar motors to power vehicles. The use of electrostatic motors has
also led to improvements in the carbon emissions. For example, in the UK, since 1990, carbon
emissions in transport and industry have lowered by 3% and 23% respectively (Department of
Energy and Climate Change, 2016). This shows, generally, that the electrostatic motor has been
quite effective. There are also barely any negative economic implications that would undermine
its effectiveness, with it being effective while cheap. It is an ideal motor and solution.
PHYSICS CRITERION D – ELECTROSTATIC MOTOR 6

Works Cited

Brown, T. T. (1930, September 25). United States Patent No. US1974483.

Department of Energy and Climate Change. (2016, March 31). UK Government. Retrieved April

12, 2016, from 2014 UK Greenhouse Gas Emissions:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/496946/20

14_Final_Emissions_Statistical_Summary_Infographic.pdf

Drives and Controls Magazine. (2014, September 15). Drives and Controls. Retrieved April 13,

2016, from Electrostatic motor out performs standard motor:

http://www.drivesncontrols.com/news/fullstory.php/aid/4556/Electrostatic_motor__91out

-performs_standard_designs_92.html

EPA. (2016, February 23). Environmental Protection Agency . Retrieved April 6, 2016, from

Global Greenhuse Gas Emissions Data:

https://www3.epa.gov/climatechange/ghgemissions/global.html

Google. (2016). Google. Retrieved April 12, 2016, from Price of a tesla model S:

https://www.google.com/?client=safari#q=cost+of+a+tesla+model+s

Nyandieka, M. (2015). How Global Warming is caused by Greenhouse Gases. (I. Alidina,

Interviewer) Mombasa, Kenya.

Shinsei Corporation. (2007). Shinsei Technology. Retrieved April 12, 2016, from High Power

Electrostatic Motor: http://www.shinsei-motor.com/English/techno/

The AA. (2014, July). The AA Insurance Company. Retrieved April 12, 2016, from

http://www.theaa.com/resources/Documents/pdf/motoring-advice/running-

costs/petrol2014.pdf
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UK Government. (2013, September 19). Gov.uk. Retrieved April 13, 2016, from National Travel

Survey 2012:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/243957/nts

2012-01.pdf