An electric bell operates using an electromagnet to produce a ringing sound. The basic components of an electric bell include:
Electromagnet: An iron core wrapped with a coil of insulated wire. When an electric current flows through the coil, it generates a magnetic field, turning the iron core into a temporary magnet.
Armature: A piece of iron attached to a spring, positioned close to the electromagnet's core. The armature is free to move back and forth.
Hammer: A small metal piece attached to the other end of the armature, opposite the spring. The hammer is positioned near the bell's gong or bell cover.
Bell Cover or Gong: A hollow metal dome or a bell-shaped cover that resonates and produces the ringing sound when struck.
Here's a step-by-step explanation of how an electric bell works:
Current flow: When an electric current is applied to the coil wound around the iron core, the coil becomes an electromagnet. The direction of the magnetic field depends on the direction of the current flow in the coil.
Magnetic attraction: The magnetic field generated by the electromagnet attracts the armature, pulling it towards the core of the electromagnet.
Armature movement: As the armature is pulled towards the electromagnet, the hammer attached to the armature moves away from the gong or bell cover.
Contact break: As the hammer moves away, it breaks the circuit between the electromagnet and the power source, interrupting the current flow to the coil.
Loss of magnetic force: With the current interrupted, the electromagnet loses its magnetism, and the attraction on the armature diminishes.
Spring action: The armature is connected to a spring, which pulls the armature back to its original position when the magnetic force is no longer present.
Contact closure: As the armature moves back, it makes contact with the electromagnet's core, closing the circuit again and allowing the current to flow through the coil.
Repeat action: The current flows through the coil, re-establishing the magnetic field and attracting the armature once more. This causes the hammer to move away from the gong or bell cover, breaking the circuit again, and the cycle repeats rapidly.
The rapid movement of the hammer back and forth striking the gong or bell cover creates the characteristic ringing sound associated with an electric bell. This process continues until the electrical power is disconnected or the switch is turned off, stopping the ringing.