Homopolar motor

Introduction:

A homo polar motor is a direct current electric motor with two magnetic poles, the conductors of which always cut unidirectional lines of magnetic flux by rotating a conductor around a fixed axis that is parallel to the magnetic field. It was the first electric motor ever invented. The magnetic field of the battery and magnets causes the copper wire to spin rapidly around the fixed axis.

Materials:

-Copper wire

-Battery

-Neodymium magnets (rare earth magnets)

-Wire cutters

-Wire benders (or just your hands)

Procedure:

1- Stack the magnets you are using on top of one another.

2- Put the battery (-) side on the magnets (so the side with the bump is facing upwards)

3- Take your copper wire and bend it into a shape that goes around the magnet but only touches the bump on the battery (see photos)

4- Place wire around the magnet/battery and have the tip of the wire on the top of the battery

5- watch your motor go!

Scientific Principals:

The homopolar motor is driven by the Lorentz force: as it moves through a magnetic field, the conductor is pushed through the magnetic field by opposing forces.