The starter motor uses electrical energy from a battery to spin the flywheel and crank the engine to start it. The solenoid connects the battery current to the starter motor to provide power. The starter motor works on the principle of electromagnetic induction, where a current applied to a conductor in a magnetic field causes the conductor to rotate. It has a commutator that reverses the current to keep the armature rotating and transmit torque to the engine flywheel through a pinion gear and overrunning clutch.