...explore: investigate how your electric motor works!
You can change the picture of the turning motor: The invisible magnetic forces are drawn. This helps you to understand the functioning of the motor.
... explore
...explore: the electric motor
In the previous sequence, the compass needle shows it very nicely: If you attract the needle in the correct rhythm with help of a spool and then release it, the needle begins to rotate at a substantial rate. The electric motor works in the same way, only that everything goes much more quickly.
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 Construct an electric motor You need a permanent magnet (2 ring magnets) and an electromagnet (spool) with a rotating axis (bronze pin), which turns itself on and off in the correct rhythm (circuit breaker). Of course, it doesn't work without electricity. That's why you also need a voltage source (battery). |
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Materials
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Draw two parallel lines 3 cm apart on the foam plate. These lines serve to orient the assembly of the electric motor. |
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Attach the voltage source (with its magnets at its poles) at the middle of the bottom line using double sided tape. Attach both ring magnets orthogonally on the battery. |
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Spread out both safety pins to right angles. The corners of the foam plate can be used as references for the right angles. |
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Insert the spread out safety pins orthogonally into the foam along the upper line. The separation of the safety pins corresponds to the width of the battery. |
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Insert the two bronze pins orthogonally 1 cm into the middle of the sides of the balsa spool core. Warning: The bronze pins may not touch each other. |
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It is important that both bronze pins form a line. This perpendicular orientation and position must be absolutely retained up to the end. Braid the uninsulated ends of the wires into compact threads. |
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Wrap one end of the wire tightly around the first bronze pin. Choose the bronze pin with the black ink line first. This pin is the "circuit breaker", as the ink line does not conduct electricity. |
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The wire is wrapped around the spool core along the middle, close to the pins and always in the same wrapping direction. Wrap the second wire-end tightly around the second bronze pin. The spool is now finished. |
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No electricity should flow before installing the spool. Contact to the voltage source is interrupted by separating one of the safety pins from the battery (a form of switch). Carefully place the spool into the loops of the safety pins. |
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In order to prevent an unintentional closing of the "switch", use a piece of paper or sandpaper in between the safety pin and the voltage source. Straighten all components once more. |
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Establish the contact between the safety pin and the voltage source. Lightly spin the spool with your hand - and the motor already runs! So? Everything working well? |
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Experiments with the electric motor Find out how many possibilities there are to change the direction of rotation of the spool. |
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