If you are a science geek, you may enjoy building a simple electric motor. It is a fun project that is easy to learn to do. For this project, you will need two paper clips, a battery, a wire, and a magnet. You will also need to make sure you have a good understanding of how an electromagnet works before you begin.
First, you will need to decide what direction your motor will spin. This can be determined by watching the direction the motor moves.
Next, you will need to create an armature. This is the part of the motor that is used to spin the coil. The armature should have a shiny side that touches the paper clip. The other end of the armature should be a bare wire. Once you have the armature, you will need to place it on top of the paper clips. To do this, use a paper clip that is curved into an “L” shape.
The armature should be positioned in a way that allows the magnet to be centered under the coil. There should be enough space for the armature to rotate and be held securely. Depending on the design of your armature, you may need to adjust the distance between the magnet and the armature.
A simple electromagnet can be created using an AA battery. You will need to wrap it around 15 times to complete the project. Make sure the ends of the wire are straight and insulated. In addition, the wire should be wrapped with electrical tape to help it hold its shape.
You will need to connect the paper clips to the batteries. If you want to use a stiff wire for this, do so. You can mount the paper clips on the battery’s negative side, or you can bend the paper clips in an L-shape. After you have attached the paper clips, you should attach the tails of the coil to the paper clip.
Use an axle support to connect the positive and negative sides of the battery. The axle support should be positioned so that it is balanced, with the battery’s positive and negative sides facing up. When the other axle makes an electrical connection with the axle support, the electrical connections will close.
When your armature is firmly connected to the battery, you should try spinning the coil. The magnetic field produced by the coil should be synchronized with the position of the magnet. As the current increases, the strength of the magnetic field will increase.
If you have a second battery, you can use it to affect the current in the electromagnet. Changing the number of coils you use can also change the weight and resistance of your motor. If you want to build a simple electric motor, you can purchase a kit from Home Science Tools that will have all the specialty items you need to make your project.
Once you have finished, you will have a simple motor that you can move around. It is fun to watch it spin!