S.T.E.A.M. at Hyde Park Elementary
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Stripped Down Motor

                What makes up a motor?
How does an electromagnetic motor work?

Students design a scientific investigation of the forces that are involved in a simple electromagnetic motor.

micro-robots
Stripped Down Motor Instructions
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Troubleshooting Your Simple Motor

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Warning: Disconnect the electric motor when not using, or after a few minutes of use because the circuit will get hot.


Building an electric motor requires patience and tinkering. If your motor doesn’t work, check this:

  • Is it on a level surface?

  • Is the coil well balanced? It should spin without wobbling.

  • Try spinning the coil in both directions. It may work in one direction but not the other.

  • Make sure the wires are making good electrical contact with the battery terminals and the paper clips.

  • Flip the magnets over so that the opposite pole is facing the coil.

  • Make sure the insulation is completely scraped off the arms of the coil.

  • Check the clearance between the bottom of the coil and the magnets. It should be about 1 centimeter.

  • Make sure the loops in the paper-clip holders are about the same height.

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