My PBL Project

Driving Questions: How does the wire (the conductor) move around the battery?

Introduction

The Homopolar Motor was first created in 1821, it was the simplest example of a motor. The Homopolar motor is a type of electric motor that uses direct current to power rotational movement, such as generated by a battery. It was the first type built and demonstrated by Michael Faraday in 1821. The homopolar motor can be made out of single AA battery or C battery, a single neodymium disc magnet and a piece of copper wire.

Materials

• • Wired Copper

  • AA Battery

  • Wired Cutter

  • Neodymium Disc Magnet

Procedure

Step 1: Cut the wire. Then bend the copper wire to any shape you desired.

Step 2: Put the battery and magnet together, but one end must be touching the positive terminal of the battery.

Step 3: Set the copper up on the battery, the wire barely touching the magnet.

Safety

• Never let children use the magnets while using during the experiment.

• Never leave children alone with magnets.

• Never let the children touch the hot magnets during the experiment.

• Wired Cutter must be used by adults and keep away from young children.

Scientific Principle

The scientific principle is the Lorentz Force. The magnetic field generated by the wire and magnetic carrying it by itself are perpendicular which will cause the were to spin. Their are two magnetic poles provided by the single permanent magnet that is used to produce the magnetic field, also required to generate rotational movement. The homopolar motor creates a rotational movement because of Lorentz Force. The electoral current is flowing from the positive terminal of the battery to the negative and into the magnet. The current then flows form the center of the magnet into the edge where the wire connects, it travels up the wire back to the positive terminal of the battery and finally the circuit is complete.

Observation: The more loops or coils the faster the wire will go because there more current through the wire. Which will create magnetic field.

Analysis and discussion: When I use a battery that is not charge it would not spin because there is no magnetic flied flowing through the battery and the wire.

Conclusion: If there is no current flowing through the wire then it wont create a magnetic field. That means the battery is not fully charged.

Real Life Connection: Homopolar Motor is used in the real life in many ways like car toys. Car toys have small motors than can be built using homopolar motor. The spinning wheels creates force causing it to force making the magnet to spin and create magnetic field. Also Homopolar have been used in high-torque wind turbines.

Investigation Part

What happens if the wire(conductor) doesn't spin around the battery?

• If the battery is not charge it would not spin because there is no magnetic field flowing through the battery and the wire.

Is there current flowing around the battery if the wire(conductor) doesn't spin around?

• No there is no current flowing through the wire and wont create magnetic field which means that the battery is not fully charge.

How is the Homopolar Motor used in the real world?

• The Homopolar Motor is used in many ways in the real world like in toy car. The toy cars have small motors that is built using the homopolar motor and the spinning wheels creates force causing it to force making the magnet to spin and creating magnetic field. It is also used in high-torque wind turbines.

What is a Homopolar Motor?

• homopolar is a type of electric motor that uses a direct current to power a rotational movement that is generated by a battery.

How does a Homopolar Motor works?

• Homopolar crates the rotational movement because of Lorentz Force.

What is Lorentz Force?

• • Is the force that is exerted by a magnetic field on the moving electric movement causing the copper wire to move around the battery. In a circular movement.

What is a Magnetic Field?

• • Magnetic field is space near a magnet, electric current, or moving charge particle in which a magnet force acts on any other magnet, electric magnet, or moving charged particle.

Who invented the Homopolar?

• • The homopolar was first and demonstrated by Michael Faraday in 1821. But there is no confirmation of what Faraday used. It could be use with single AA or C battery, a neodymium disc magnet, and piece of wired copper.

Why does the homopolar works?

• • the homopolar creates a rotational movement due to Lorentz Force. The electric current is flowing from the positive terminal battery to the negative into the magnet.

Is Homopolar motor used is medical field?

• • Yes it is used in medical field like MRI Scans.