Build Your Own Simple Electric Motor to Explore Electromagnetism

Welcome! In this guide, we'll walk through the steps to build a simple electric motor. This hands-on project will help you understand the principles of electromagnetism while having fun creating something with your own two hands. Let’s get started!
By Taylor

What You’ll Need

Before we dive into the steps, gather these materials:

  • Copper wire (about 24 gauge)
  • AA battery
  • Battery holder (optional, but useful for safety)
  • Paper clips
  • Small strong magnet (like a neodymium magnet)
  • Electrical tape or masking tape
  • Scissors
  • Wire strippers (if needed)

Step 1: Prepare the Copper Wire

Cut a piece of copper wire about 24 inches long. Next, use the wire strippers to remove a small section of insulation from each end of the wire. This will expose the copper and allow for a good electrical connection.

Step 2: Create the Coil

Wrap the copper wire around a cylindrical object (like a battery or a marker) to form a coil. Aim for about 10 loops. Once you’ve got your coil, carefully slide it off the object, keeping it in shape. Now, twist the ends of the wire together to hold the loops in place tightly.

Step 3: Make the Motor Base

Take two paper clips and straighten them out. Then bend them into U-shapes, which will serve as supports for your coil. Attach these paper clips to a stable base (like a piece of cardboard) using tape. Make sure they are spaced apart enough for the coil to spin freely above them.

Step 4: Attach the Magnet

Place your small magnet underneath the coil on the base, right between the two paper clips. The magnet should be strong enough to interact with the coil when current flows through it.

Step 5: Connect the Battery

If you have a battery holder, place the AA battery in it. If not, simply connect one end of the copper wire to the positive terminal of the battery and the other to the negative terminal using tape. Make sure the connections are secure!

Step 6: Start the Motor

Now, gently place your coil on top of the paper clips, ensuring it can spin freely. When you connect the battery, you should see the coil start to spin! If it doesn’t, check the connections and make sure the ends of the copper wire are making contact with the paper clips.

Understanding Electromagnetism

As electricity flows through the coil, it generates a magnetic field that interacts with the magnet below. This interaction creates a force that causes the coil to spin. This is the basic principle of electromagnetism at work!

Conclusion

Congratulations on building your very own simple electric motor! This project not only teaches you about electromagnetism but also gives you a hands-on experience of how electric motors function. Feel free to experiment by changing the number of coils or using different types of magnets to see how it affects the motor’s speed and efficiency. Happy experimenting!