Beakman's Electric Motor

In summary, to make the motor, we need to remove the insulation from one side of the wire and only half of the insulation from the other side. This allows for the coil to be active only half the time and for the coil and ceramic magnet to push against each other without any opposing forces. Removing all the insulation from both ends or the entire wire will not work properly. Knowing the polarity of the magnets used can be determined using Flemming's left hand rule.
  • #1
KLscilevothma
322
0
http://fly.hiwaay.net/~palmer/motor.html [Broken]

In step 2, it says
On one tail, use fine sandpaper to completely remove the insulation from the wire. Leave about 1/4" of insulation on the end and where the wire meets to coil. On the other tail, lay the coil down flat and lightly sand off the insulation from the top half of the wire only. Again, leave 1/4" of full insulation on the end and where the wire meets the coil.

Why we should remove the insulation from one side of the wire while to sand off the insulation from the top half of the other end of the wire? What if we remove all the insulation from both ends of the wire? And what happen if we remove all the insulation of the wire?

By Flemming's left hand rule, we can work out the polarity of the magnet used.

I've made this motor before, it's easy to make, and pretty cool!
 
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  • #2
Originally posted by KL Kam
Why we should remove the insulation from one side of the wire while to sand off the insulation from the top half of the other end of the wire? What if we remove all the insulation from both ends of the wire? And what happen if we remove all the insulation of the wire?

The reason to entirely remove the insulation from one side of the wire is so that it is always in contact with the battery (through the paperclip).
The reason to remove 1/2 the insulation from the other side of the wire is so the coil (electromagnet) is only on, or active, 1/2 the time. This way you can get the coil-magnet and ceramic-magnet to "push" against each other without them "pulling" each other 1/2 the time, which would keep the coil from spinning.
Remember if a north-pole end of a magnet is near a north-pole end, it will repel, but if a north-pole end is near a south-pole end it will attract. If we have equal "pulling" and "pushing", the forces will cancel each other out. If we only do one or the other, there is no other force to cancel.
 
  • #3
got it! Thank you
 

1. How does Beakman's Electric Motor work?

Beakman's Electric Motor is a simple motor that works by using a battery, a magnet, and a wire to create an electromagnetic field. When the wire is placed in the magnetic field, it experiences a force that causes it to spin, creating motion.

2. What materials do I need to build Beakman's Electric Motor?

To build Beakman's Electric Motor, you will need a D-cell battery, a large insulated wire, a small magnet, electrical tape, and a pair of pliers. You may also need a small piece of sandpaper to remove the enamel coating from the wire.

3. How do I assemble Beakman's Electric Motor?

To assemble Beakman's Electric Motor, start by removing the enamel coating from both ends of the wire using sandpaper. Next, wrap one end of the wire around the battery tightly and use electrical tape to secure it in place. Then, place the magnet on top of the battery and wrap the other end of the wire around the magnet. Finally, use the pliers to bend the wire into a loop and adjust it until the motor starts spinning.

4. Can I make any modifications to Beakman's Electric Motor?

Yes, you can experiment with different sizes and types of magnets, as well as different gauges and lengths of wire to see how they affect the motor's performance. You can also try using multiple batteries or adding more loops of wire to the motor to increase its power.

5. What is the purpose of Beakman's Electric Motor?

The purpose of Beakman's Electric Motor is to demonstrate the principles of electromagnetism and how electricity can be used to create motion. It is a fun and educational way to learn about basic electrical circuits and motors. It can also inspire curiosity and creativity in students and spark an interest in science and engineering.

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