How to Spin a Cylinder Magnet

You can conduct a fun science project to demonstrate how a magnet spins by making an electric motor. For this project, you must create an electromagnet with a battery and use the attraction of a second magnet to power the motor. You can find materials for this project at a local electrical supply store.

Things You'll Need

• 1/2-inch dowel
• Hand saw
• Magnet wire
• Wire cutters
• 1/4-inch dowel
• Copper wire
• D-cell battery holder
• Block of wood
• Epoxy
• 1-inch ceramic magnet
• D-cell battery

Instructions

1. Measure a 1/2-inch dowel to 2 inches with the ruler. Cut the dowel to this length with the hand saw.

2. Wrap the magnet wire around the dowel to make a 12 loop coil. Keep 2 inches of wire off each end of the dowel. Cut the wire with the wire cutters.

3. Strip 1 inch of insulation from each end of the magnet wire with the wire strippers. Pull the coiled wire off the dowel and set it aside.

4. Measure and cut a 1/4-inch dowel to 3 1/2 inches. Measure and cut a 4-inch piece of copper wire.

5. Lay one of the 3 1/2-inch pieces of wire against the 3 1/2-inch dowel. Bend the wire to make a loop on the end of the dowel. Repeat this step with the second 4-inch piece of wire. These pieces serve as the magnet's supports.

6. Secure the D-cell battery holder onto a block of wood with epoxy. Allow six hours for the epoxy to dry.

7. Attach the ends of the looped copper wire onto each side of the battery holder. The loops on the end of the wire need to be even with each other.

8. Insert the ends of the coiled magnet wire into the loops of the copper wire supports. Position the 1-inch ceramic magnet under the coiled magnet wire on top of the battery holder.

9. Place a D-cell battery into the battery holder. Spin the coiled magnet wire and see it begin to spin on its own.

References

• "Projects and Devices to Channel Your Inner Geek;" Simon Quellen Field
• Sciencebob: Make an Electromagnet