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Build your own ultra-simple electric motor with only a battery, magnet, and a bit of wire. Takes only a minute to build, but will keep you mesmerized for hours. Makes a hypnotizing spiral screw movement. What makes this work? Leave a comment with your theories. Featured in Make volume 1. Cool science project. Impress your friends. More»
The wire solenoid is producing a B field that is attracted to the magnetic dipole produced by the permanent magnet. Because of Lenz' Law the wire solenoid turns.
By bcaflyboy 1197522934 Reply Spam [+26] Moderate Up Moderate Down Removeand it makes good sense. Thanks for the expalanation.
By cobbler 1197525417 Reply Spam [+9] Moderate Up Moderate Down RemoveThanks for explaining the unexplained phenomenon. Now he'll have to change the title!
By PorkyPig 1203634919 Reply Spam [+4] Moderate Up Moderate Down Removeexplained phenomenon
By hardband 1205611331 Reply Spam [+2] Moderate Up Moderate Down RemoveWhat will happen if you use one of the ultra-strong neodymium rare-earth magnets? Especially if it is one of them that weighs less than 3 lbs, but can lift a 300 lb. man off of the ground?
By S.A.K.E.owner 1203311560 Reply Spam [+4] Moderate Up Moderate Down Removemake an engine starter for cars
By buknoy23 1205896844 Reply Spam [+2] Moderate Up Moderate Down RemoveLenz's law doesnt apply here. His law is that if a magnetic material cuts Flux lines in a magnetic field, a current will be induced in this material. The direction of this current wil be such, that it will create a magnetic field which opposes the movement. What is happening here is that a current is passing through the wire. the battery is there to produce a current. this current produces a magnetic field in the wire which interacts with the magnetic field from the magnet. The result is that the wire rotates. this works on a similair principle to a dc motor but without the commutator.
By uikis 1211473153 Reply Spam [+3] Moderate Up Moderate Down Removeit is the same principle that most (or all?) electric generators and motors work. I bet cobbler CAN explain this phenomenon, since he CANNOT invent such a thing without knowing anything about electric =))
By midsummerssun 1214086959 Reply Spam [+0] Moderate Up Moderate Down RemoveIT WORKS BECAUSE IT DOES.....SIMPLE ANSWER
By MadOzZy 1198763901 Reply Spam [+2] Moderate Up Moderate Down Removeyeah, nice answer MadOzZy
By Sexy :P 1201220951 Reply Spam [+1] Moderate Up Moderate Down RemoveDon't post your spam here
By cobbler 1199245401 Reply Spam [+1] Moderate Up Moderate Down RemoveWhat is solenoid, what is a B field, what is a dipole, what are you talking about??? Who is Lenz and what does he have to do with this? Explaining means you actually use terms people know, like magnet, wire and current (i.e. electricity).
How about: connecting the wire creates an electric current, which generates an electromagnetic field (nobody knows why). This field induces a force on the magnet, causing the battery to spin. (or something like that)
very, very similar to my work ;-)
It calls "Crazy engine! It works!"
It is really very similar to my: "Crazy Engine! It works!" Or not...?
By dangerartde 1198621879 Reply Spam [+1] Moderate Up Moderate Down Removeyea what maxwell said
By champion6471 1202235034 Reply Spam [-1] Moderate Up Moderate Down RemoveFleming, his left-hand rule can explain this
By wingwing 1197458176 Reply Spam [+7] Moderate Up Moderate Down RemoveI remember learning about that in physics calss - with the thumb and the way the fingers wrap to show direction of forces. That was one of those topics that didn't fully take hold in my brain.
By cobbler 1197492046 Reply Spam [+1] Moderate Up Moderate Down RemoveThat 'thumb and finger' thing is called the right hand rule, it's something all engineers learn and applies to much much more than just electricity and magnetism.
By Youker 1202571195 Reply Spam [+1] Moderate Up Moderate Down Removebut not in Japan, the UK, and other parts of the old British Empire!
By RuLev 1202716140 Reply Spam [+0] Moderate Up Moderate Down RemoveNice vid! 5 stars!!! hunn!
By beepz 1197781641 Reply Spam [+0] Moderate Up Moderate Down RemoveThis is your basic homopolar motor - do a search for this if you need an explanation, I'm no physicist!
By RuLev 1197433184 Reply Spam [+7] Moderate Up Moderate Down RemoveI almost called this "Simple Motor." That would have been a real mistake.
By cobbler 1198109834 Reply Spam [+0] Moderate Up Moderate Down RemoveThis is called a homopolar motor, which was the first electric motor, made by Faraday. Homopolar meaning the poles don't change, in contrast to the usual DC motor which has a commutator.
It works on the Lorentz force. Charges moving radially outward from the magnet through the magnetic field produce a force perpendicular to both, which is tangential around the magnet. This comes from F = qv x B where F is the force vector, q is the charge, v is the velocity vector, B is the magnetic field vector, and x is the cross product.
the coil turnings cut the magnetics feild lines and so they move from south to north causing a circulation,to increase the speed of the circulation we must increase the number of turnings of the coil,this causes more and more magnetic lines to be cut.a current will be produced at the coil!
anyways its a wonderful video though
Mrriokart and friends please stop posting your spam here. Lame.
By cobbler 1197919145 Reply Spam [+3] Moderate Up Moderate Down Removeyes, it's the homopolar machine. The coil is redundant to the magnet. Probably the coil ads or subtracts a small amount to the magnetic field of the magnet. But it turns as a result as a "defective" D loop between the top of the battery and the base. When changing the direction of the coil, it will turn slower or faster by a small amount. What will happen if you eliminated the magnet altogether and instead, use a much bigger coil ?
By mapritac 1200260688 Reply Spam [+2] Moderate Up Moderate Down Removedoes the batt run out ?
Have not run mine out, but I am sure it will at some point.
By cobbler 1197851772 Reply Spam [+0] Moderate Up Moderate Down Removeyou forgot to tell people to be careful when doing this...... DO NOT HIT THE BATTERY TO HARD. i tried this...hit the battery to hard.. and made a hole in the battery. i got acid on my fingers and on my desk :(
By Single_Guy161 1201947752 Reply Spam [+1] Moderate Up Moderate Down RemoveI had as much time to waste as you do. Cool. though. 5*'s
By Patriotic American 1200092765 Reply Spam [+1] Moderate Up Moderate Down RemoveIf I had time to do this every day Id be able to quit my job.
By cobbler 1200546179 Reply Spam [+0] Moderate Up Moderate Down Remove...Its obviously Chuck Norris!
By HarryG321 1199302008 Reply Spam [+1] Moderate Up Moderate Down RemoveEXCELLENT EDITTING ? REGARDLESS AWESOME JOB .GOING TO TRY IT.NO MATTER WHAT D-C CURRENT WANTS A COMPLETE PATH , A-C WILL JUMP A GAP. 5 STARS
By SPICERIDER 1198516479 Reply Spam [+1] Moderate Up Moderate Down RemoveFor the compliment.
By cobbler 1199208223 Reply Spam [+0] Moderate Up Moderate Down RemoveCan't get to work. Used copper wire, AA battery and round magnet. have three wraps in wire. have re-bent wire dozens of times?????
By glatho 1198505648 Reply Spam [+1] Moderate Up Moderate Down RemoveIs that your magnet has to have an electrically conductive surface. If it is not conductive, it may work to put a conductive washer between the battery and the magnet. Then have the wire contact the washer.
By cobbler 1199205187 Reply Spam [+0] Moderate Up Moderate Down RemoveTry turning the magnet over Glatho. You want the wire to be attracted, not repelled, by the permanent magnet. The bottom of the battery has to be electrically bonded to the permanent magnet. The magnet needs to be made from a relatively good conductor.
By bcaflyboy 1198517731 Reply Spam [+0] Moderate Up Moderate Down Removeelectromagnetism's and field lines etc haha 6th form year 12 physics haha this is awesome love it 5
By Rodady 1197440058 Reply Spam [+1] Moderate Up Moderate Down Removeinteresting--look up Joe Newman energy machine for more magnet info
By andy1400 1197426336 Reply Spam [+1] Moderate Up Moderate Down RemoveI googled Joe Newman. Thanks for the information.
By cobbler 1197491877 Reply Spam [+0] Moderate Up Moderate Down Removethat was great lil project simple to understand maybe but none the less i thought it was cool and it is a good example of why i get on this site many small ideas can lead to 1 great 1 good job cobbler
By daveroby13 1197420648 Reply Spam [+1] Moderate Up Moderate Down RemoveI aprreciate the nice words.
By cobbler 1197491678 Reply Spam [+1] Moderate Up Moderate Down RemoveNo comment
By eddy10116 1197418319 Reply Spam [+1] Moderate Up Moderate Down RemoveI have seen designs similar to this, but none as simple or robust.
By cobbler 1197418841 Reply Spam [+0] Moderate Up Moderate Down RemoveI love it thanks man for this video
By Samalife 1214149523 Reply Spam [+0] Moderate Up Moderate Down Removeidk how it works but thats kool
By dan_007 1208836695 Reply Spam [+0] Moderate Up Moderate Down RemoveYour Vido Stenks!!!!
By Admin of matecafe 1208439490 Reply Spam [+0] Moderate Up Moderate Down Removeelectricity travels in circles....or a spiral, you are basically creating an electric magnet, the strongest magnetic force will travel in circles and thus drag the wire along......i think.....hey, shut up, im 12
By sirinja 1207272450 Reply Spam [+0] Moderate Up Moderate Down Removeit doesnt work i used a paper clip for the wire does that work?
By minidelorean 1207187554 Reply Spam [+0] Moderate Up Moderate Down RemoveThe wire is touching the positive side so it's positive the magnet is either attracted to it so it's spinning towards it ore negative so its spinning away from it. basically the wire is just conducting so it is pulled to both sides causing a spin. cool little trick and can be fun to do to try and trick your friends. good vid!
By damanrmw21 1207081578 Reply Spam [+0] Moderate Up Moderate Down Removeeeeeeasy, it´s magic...
By enger 1205698295 Reply Spam [+0] Moderate Up Moderate Down Removewondering how powerful the magnet needs to be?
By Candysnyper4 1205643402 Reply Spam [+0] Moderate Up Moderate Down Removehow powerful does the magnet have to be?
By Candysnyper4 1205643297 Reply Spam [+0] Moderate Up Moderate Down RemoveFlamine's left had low
By jfdujr 1205481188 Reply Spam [+0] Moderate Up Moderate Down Removethats realaly cool
By yohn 1205100205 Reply Spam [+0] Moderate Up Moderate Down Removethat is good for scince projcet!!
By Sofie1959 1204552949 Reply Spam [+0] Moderate Up Moderate Down RemoveI like your vids, 5 stars I have subscribed! keep em coming!
By VideoVault 1204516196 Reply Spam [+0] Moderate Up Moderate Down RemoveTrick works great!
Also how do you get your voice while playing the video? Your voice projects loudly as your video is playing.
Any tips? :)
PLEASE DONT READ THIS!!!!U WILL GET KISSED ON THE NEAREST POSSIBLE FRIDAY BY THE LOVE OF UR LIFE. 2MORROW WILL BE THE BEST DAY OF UR LIFE.HOWEVER IF U DONT POST THIS COMMENT TO ATLEAST 3 VIDEOS U WILL DIE IN 2 DAYS.NOW UV STARTED READIN THIS SO DONT STOP NOW!THIS IS SOOO SCARY.SEND THIS TO ATLEAST 5 VIDEOS IN 143 MINUTES WHEN UR DONE PRESS F6 AND UR CRUSSHES NAMEWILL APPEAR ON THE SCREEN IN BIG LETTERS THIS IS SOO SCARY CUZ IT ACTUALLY WORKS!!!!!
By djfake 1204403011 Reply Spam [+0] Moderate Up Moderate Down RemoveMagic? :-)
By austinscott 1204237369 Reply Spam [+0] Moderate Up Moderate Down RemoveHow you got money for this video. It's least the 4th duplicate of homopolar motor video...
By D3stiny 1204117573 Reply Spam [+0] Moderate Up Moderate Down RemoveWithout going into the whole solenoid explanation, let me sum it up
Any wire with electricity running through it is essentially a magnet. After the wire completed the circuit, the wire was charged the same way as the magnet, repelling it and going in a spiral because of the way it's been curled
can u xlplain 2 me hw does it work?
By nibula 1203711351 Reply Spam [+0] Moderate Up Moderate Down RemoveIn school I took the hard one but this one is so easy
why is it unexplained phenomon?
By shark7 1203025872 Reply Spam [+0] Moderate Up Moderate Down Removei love it and i like the ges like you ....
By jaddulord 1202833151 Reply Spam [+0] Moderate Up Moderate Down Removey don't know how it's call in english....exactly ...but in my language it's call "camp magnetic" :D i thnik it's called "magnetic field" ...
By bucyfal 1202765363 Reply Spam [+0] Moderate Up Moderate Down RemoveIts not a phenomenon. Its magnetism.
That is a great experiment to try!
By marcelo7300 1201993984 Reply Spam [+0] Moderate Up Moderate Down RemoveIt's a modified Homopolar/Faraday Motor which operates on the principle of MagnetoHydroDynamics
By AlphaFiveDelta 1201971302 Reply Spam [+0] Moderate Up Moderate Down Removei try the battery get very hot but no move
By johnny35 1201916751 Reply Spam [+0] Moderate Up Moderate Down Removeso simple I had all parts within arms length
By wheelnut53 1201524820 Reply Spam [+0] Moderate Up Moderate Down Removehow long will it spin before it dies and/or melts?
By 4theriders 1201496769 Reply Spam [+0] Moderate Up Moderate Down RemoveIm only in the 7th grade so im going to take a guess. I believe it works because the magnet lets the wirer move in a cicular motion and the magnet also travels through the battery which keeps the wier on the magnet. Just a guess. Could you tell me if im right or wrong.
By XKW798 1201209379 Reply Spam [+0] Moderate Up Moderate Down Removedude that was awsome
By SliceFury 1201124453 Reply Spam [+0] Moderate Up Moderate Down RemoveHow long before the battery overheats due to the short circuit? Or does the magnet provide enough resistance?
By aardvarkboy 1201046890 Reply Spam [+0] Moderate Up Moderate Down Remove