The fundamentals of pumped water systems continues with a look at three-phase electrical systems
To understand how electricity causes an electric motor to turn, and to understand the difference between single- and three-phase power, let us relate electric motors to a water wheel. Picture a water wheel next to a waterfall. This particular wheel has just one cup on it that fills with water whenever it is positioned under the waterfall. The weight of the water in the cup causes the wheel to turn. The wheel has just enough momentum to complete one revolution but is kept turning by the re-filling of the cup.