Electric Motor Lab
The objective is to build a simple electric motor and modify the motor for maximum
performance.
Materials:
“D” cell battery
Paper clip (2)
magnet
sand paper
magnet wire (1 meter)
tape or rubber band
Procedures:
1. Form a coil by wrapping the wire around an object about the size of a quarter. Leave
about 4 cm of straight wire at each end.
2. Use the sand paper to remove the insulation from each end of the wire.
3. Bend the paper clips as shown and use tape or rubber band to fasten them to the end
of the battery.
4. Place the magnet on the battery as shown in the diagram.
5. Set the wire coil on the clips as shown in the diagram. Be sure the bare copper wire
is making contact with the paper clips.
6. Give the loop a spin and it should start rotating on its own. Slight adjustments may
need to be made to get the motor to function.
7. Show me your working motor
Questions and Analysis:
1. The current flowing through the wire creates an electromagnet. Explain how this
works.
2. One end of the coil is a North Pole and the other end is a South Pole. How does this
cause the coil in this motor to spin?
3. Can you make the coil spin in both directions? Explain why or why not.
4. How could you modify the motor to make the coil spin faster?