Liam Carter
Electric motors are fascinating devices that leverage the interaction of electric currents and magnets to generate motion. While there are various types of electric motors, one of the simplest to construct at home is the homopolar motor, which requires just a few easily accessible components. In this guide, we will explore how to make a basic electric motor using nails, a design that has been around since the 1930s and featured in publications like the Boy Mechanic. By gathering materials such as a neodymium magnet, a battery, copper wire, and a nail, you can create a functional motor and gain a hands-on understanding of the principles behind electric motors.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Frame | Cut and bent tin can |
| Axle | Nail |
| Windings | Magnet wire |
| Wiring | Scotch tape |
| Motor | Windings |
| Tin-can frame | Windings |
| Commutation | Brushes made from brass sheet |
| Magnet | Neodymium magnet |
| Battery | AA battery |
| Wire | Copper wire |
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What You'll Learn
Electric motors use magnetism to create motion
Electric motors are machines that convert electrical energy into mechanical energy. They can be powered by direct current (DC) sources, such as batteries, or by alternating current (AC) sources, such as a power grid. The most common type of electric motor is the brushed DC motor, found in essentially everything that moves and runs on batteries.
The outside of a DC motor is the stator, a permanent magnet that does not move. The inside part is the rotor, which does move. The rotor can be an electromagnet or a permanent magnet. When DC power is sent through the rotor, it creates a temporary electromagnetic field that interacts with the permanent magnetic field of the stator. The commutator keeps the polarity of the field flipping, which keeps the rotor rotating. This creates the torque needed to produce mechanical power.
To make a simple electric motor using nails, you will need a frame made of a cut and bent tin can, an axle made out of a nail, and windings made from magnet wire. The wiring on the armature is often secured with Scotch tape. There are windings on both the motor and the tin-can frame, and commutation is from brushes made out of little pieces of brass sheet.
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Use a permanent magnet and a temporary magnet (electromagnet)
An electric motor uses the attracting and repelling properties of magnets to create motion. It contains two magnets: a permanent magnet and a temporary magnet, also known as an electromagnet. The permanent magnet is surrounded by a magnetic field with a north and south pole at all times. On the other hand, the electromagnet only creates a magnetic field when an electric current is flowing through a wire. The strength of this electromagnet's magnetic field can be increased by amplifying the current through the wire or by forming the wire into multiple loops.
To make an electric motor, the electromagnet is placed on an axle so it can spin freely and is then positioned within the magnetic field of the permanent magnet. When a current is passed through the electromagnet, its resulting temporary magnetic field interacts with the permanent magnetic field, creating attractive and repelling forces that push the electromagnet, causing it to spin on its axle. The strength of the magnets will determine the strength of these forces and the speed of the motor's spin.
The electric motor can be powered using direct current (DC) or alternating current (AC). DC motors use direct current electrical energy to produce mechanical energy, while AC motors use alternating currents.
To create an electromagnet, you can wrap wire around a nail and connect it to a battery. The wire will need to be insulated, and the nail should be steel to avoid being attracted to the magnet. The battery can be a D-cell battery, and the magnet can be a neodymium magnet, also known as a rare earth magnet or supermagnet, which can be purchased at hardware or office supply stores.
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Coil wire neatly to make the motor work
Neatly coiling the wire is an important step in making your electric motor work. When coiling the wire, ensure that there are no crossing wires and that the loops are touching each other, always parallel to one another. You can use a felt-tip marker cap or four pencils taped together to help neatly coil the wire. From one end of the magnet wire, measure about 1.6 inches (4 cm), and from that point on, wind the magnet wire 10½ times around the cylinder or taped pencils. Cut the wire, leaving about 1.6 inches (4 cm) free at each end. The magnet wire must be evenly coiled, and the weight must be evenly distributed, or else it may be difficult for the electromagnet coil to rotate in the final motor setup.
Try spinning the coil with your fingertip and looking for any spots where the coil has trouble rotating. If you find any such spots, try smoothing them out or recoiling the wire. To hold the loops together, thread each free end of the magnet wire through the loops of the coil in the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock positions. If desired, you can knot the magnet wire to help the coils stay tightly bunched. The free ends of the magnet wire should form a straight imaginary line through the coil, connecting the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock positions and extending beyond the coil. The free ends will be the axle upon which your electromagnet (the coiled loops of magnet wire) spins.
When coiling the wire around a nail, ensure that you wrap the wire tightly, leaving no gaps between the wires and not overlapping the wraps. You can also coil the wire around a toilet paper tube or a cylinder of a similar circumference. Wrap the wire around the tube about seven times, leaving a 3-inch tail at the beginning and end of the coiled section. The number of coils around the nail can be varied to affect the strength of the electromagnet.
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Sand the ends of the copper coil for better connection
To make a simple electric motor using nails, you will need a few inches of copper wire, a battery cell, a neodymium disk magnet, and a ferromagnetic screw. The battery needn't be any particular type; an alkaline C-cell works fine and is easy to hold. Bare copper wire will work just as well.
Before assembling the motor, it is important to prepare the ends of the copper coil by sanding them. This process might seem insignificant, but it plays a crucial role in ensuring the optimal performance of your electric motor. Here are the key reasons why sanding the ends of the copper coil is essential:
Remove Oxidation: Copper wires, when exposed to the environment, can develop a thin layer of oxidation on their surface over time. This oxidation layer can hinder the flow of electricity and create unwanted resistance in the circuit. By sanding the ends of the coil, you effectively remove this oxidation layer, ensuring a smoother flow of electrical current.
Improve Conductivity: Copper is renowned for its excellent conductivity, but even the slightest impurities or oxidation on its surface can reduce this capability. Sanding the ends of the coil creates a fresh, clean surface, enhancing the conductivity of the wire. This improved conductivity allows electricity to flow more efficiently, reducing energy losses within your motor.
Secure Connection: The sanding process also helps create a rough surface on the ends of the copper coil. This rough texture enhances the grip between the coil and the terminals it connects to within the motor. A secure connection ensures that the coil doesn't come loose easily, maintaining a stable electrical connection and reducing the chances of motor failure due to loose connections.
Enhance Current Flow: By removing the insulating layer of oxidation and impurities, sanding the ends of the copper coil improves the overall electrical connectivity of your motor. This means that when you attach the coil to the circuit components, you establish a strong electrical connection. As a result, the flow of current is enhanced, and your motor can operate more efficiently.
In summary, sanding the ends of the copper coil is a crucial step in building your simple electric motor with nails. It ensures the removal of oxidation, enhances conductivity, creates a secure connection, and ultimately improves the overall performance of your motor by facilitating a smooth and efficient flow of electrical current.
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Attach the magnet to one end of the battery
To attach the magnet to one end of the battery, you will need a battery cell, a neodymium disc magnet, and some hot glue.
Firstly, decide which end of the battery you would like to attach the magnet to. You can attach it to either end, but if you attach it to the button end, the motor will spin in one direction, and if you attach it to the other end, it will spin in the opposite direction. You can also reverse the direction by flipping the magnet upside down.
Next, take your neodymium disc magnet and attach it to the end of the battery using hot glue. Make sure you are in a well-ventilated area when using the glue. Wait a few minutes for the glue to harden. If the glue is not left long enough, it will still be liquid, and if left too long, it will stick to the battery and be hard to detach.
Now that your magnet is attached, you can move on to the next step of lightly touching the free end of the wire to the side of the magnet. When you touch the wire to the side of the magnet, you will complete an electric circuit. The current will flow out of the battery, down the screw, sideways through the magnet to the wire, and through the wire to the other end of the battery.
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Frequently asked questions
You will need a neodymium magnet, a nail, a spool of thin-gauged copper wire, wire cutters, a battery, needle-nose pliers, and some tape.
First, you need to make a loop with your copper wire that fits around the magnet. The loop doesn't need to touch the entire base of the magnet; it can be oval-shaped and touch the battery at just two points.
There are a few things to check: ensure you are using a fresh battery, check that your coil is balanced, and confirm that the exposed ends of the insulated wire are attached to the battery. You may also need to sand the ends of the coil for better contact.
