How to Make Your Own Physics Toys

With simple supplies such as copper wire, you can make a motor.

Many physics toys can easily be made using household and otherwise easily-obtainable supplies. The spinning cylinder and coil motor are two such toys. The spinning cylinder involves a mysterious motion explained by movement along two axes. The coil motor requires a few more specialized supplies and more skill to construct. However, the degree of difficulty is low and the motor action of the coil is sure to excite students and teachers alike.

Things You'll Need

• 2-inch length PVC piping, 1/2 inch diameter
• Green paint or permanent marker
• Red paint or permanent marker
• 3 feet of 22-gauge enamel-insulated copper wire
• Wire stripper
• Marker
• 1 foot of 20-gauge bare copper wire
• C or D battery
• Battery holder
• Small piece of paper
• Small magnet

Instructions

Spinning Tube

1. On one end of the PVC pipe's curved side, mark a red dot. On the opposite end, mark a green dot.

2. On a flat surface, place your finger on the red dot and apply pressure so that the pipe is launched from under your finger and sent spinning.

3. Observe what happens to the pipe and what colored dot is visible as it spins.

4. Repeat with the green dot. Now, observe what colored dot is visible. The reason for the difference in observations is that the pipe is spinning on two axes: around the center of the length of pipe, as well as around the center of the pipe's diameter.

Wire Motor

1. Cut the insulation off the insulated copper wire except for the last 2 inches of each end.

2. Cut the insulation off just one side of the last 2 inches of each end.

3. Wrap the wire around a marker, leaving the half-insulated ends out, plus 1 inch. Remove from marker and secure by wrapping the entire coil with the extra inch on each side. Both wraps should be just across from each other.

4. Cut the bare copper wire in half and wrap each half twice around the marker in the center.

5. Place the battery in the battery holder, with a piece of paper between the positive end and the receiver. Place battery and holder on its side on a flat surface.

6. Attach the two ends of one piece of uninsulated wire to the positive side of the battery holder.

7. Attach the two ends of the second piece of uninsulated wire to the negative side of the battery holder.

8. Bend the wire circles up so they are perpendicular to the flat surface.

9. Place the coil ends resting inside each circle.

10. Place the magnet on top of the battery holder, between the battery holder and the coil.

11. Remove the paper and the wire coil spins.

Tips & Warnings

• The wire motor coil may need a little push to get started.

• Wires connected to a battery for long periods of time can get hot.

References

• Lock Haven University: Physics Toys, Tricks, and Teasers
• SciToys: Electromagnetism