How to Make a Simple Electric Motor

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If projects like the potato-powered digital clock are a bit old school, up your game with a simple electric motor to wow the judges at your next science fair.

Step 1: Coil the wire around the battery

Coil the wire around the D-cell battery several times. Remove the coil and wrap the ends around two sides of the coil to hold it in place. Leave 3 inches of wire lead on each end.

Step 2: Strip and coat the wire ends

Strip both ends of the wire coil leads. Hold the coil vertically and coat one half of one lead with a permanent marker. Apply a second coat of ink.

Tip

The ink coating is very important as it allows a break in the magnetic field to keep the coil spinning.

Step 3: Place the magnets

Turn a plastic cup upside down and place one disk magnet on top while putting the other inside the cup, against the roof, to hold both magnets in place.

Tip

A clear cup works best to display your work and to prove there are no other mechanisms.

Step 4: Straighten the paper clips

Straighten the outside ends of both paper clips to form a "P." Attach the paper clips to the cup using 2 large rubber bands to build a cradle for the wire coil.

Step 5: Balance the coil in the paper clips

Balance the coil inside the paper clip cradle loop. Adjust the height so the coil just misses the magnets when it spins. Attach an alligator cable clip to each paper clip just above the rubber band.

Step 6: Connect the battery

Connect the D-cell battery to the coil using the other two alligator clips. Be sure one end is connected to the positive side and the other the negative side of the battery. Give the coil a gentle spin.

Step 7: Adjust the motor

Adjust the balance of the coil and the distance between each paper clip cradle. Experiment with the configuration until you have a working motor.

Did You Know?

In 1899, Thomas Edison believed electricity would run the ca