How to Make an Electromagnetic Motor Experiment

Electric motors are indispensable when it comes to any type of machine. This is true whether you are talking about a vehicle engine, a household appliance or a child's robotic toy. Their purpose is to use electrical energy to produce mechanical energy that will power these types of items, a principle first developed by Michael Faraday. They are quite useful and practical in everyday life, and building a simple one from scratch is a fun way to learn how they work.

Things You'll Need

• 1 D cell battery
• Varnished copper wire, 3 ½-feet
• Battery holder
• Magnet that can fit into the holder
• Sandpaper, small piece

Instructions

1. Take the piece of copper wire and, starting from around 3-inches from the wire's end, wrap its entire length around and around the D cell battery. You will wrap the wire up to seven times. It is important to leave slightly more than 1-inch of the wire on either end so as to use the ends to secure the coil. These pieces of wire that are left to secure the coil are referred to as leads.

2. Take one of the wire ends and wrap it around the coil so as to stop it from falling apart. On the other side of the coil, around mid way from the circle that the coil forms, use the remaining end of the copper wire to secure the coil just as you have done in the first securing step. The lead wires are supposed to stick out from the opposite sides of the coil that has now been secured.

3. Take the coil and set it on the table. Use the sandpaper to rub the top of each lead. Care must be taken to ensure that the varnish that is on the opposite side is not removed during the process. The purpose of the varnished side is to interrupt the flow of electricity even as the unvarnished side allows for current flow. Thus as the coil rotates, and the two sides touch the current, it is this interruption in the electric flow that will cause the coil to spin.

4. Insert the battery and magnet into the holder and secure them. Next, place the coil in the holder by inserting the lead wires into the slots and securing them as well.

5. When the coil is properly inserted into the holder, it will start spinning. If it does not, give it a gentle push. If it is still not functioning properly, straighten or adjust the lead wires and wait for the spin.

Tips & Warnings

• If you find the above method of holding the coil together to be difficult, use scotch or electrical tape to make sure that both ends of the line, the leads, are well aligned and secure so that they make a good axle.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish