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Magnetic Motor

In this activity, you will cause an electric coil of wire to spin (like a motor) simply using an electric current and a magnet.

Procedure

MATERIALS

Copper wire (12-18 inches?)
Fat marker​
Sandpaper (small square)​
Paper clips (2)
Battery (D cell)
Electrical tape​
Magnet

Make the coil

Loop the wire tightly around a fat marker.
Leave a couple of inches at each end of the wire.
Twist some of the ends around the loop to hold it in place.
(Make sure you still have an inch or two at each end. Your coil must be longer than the length of a D-cell battery.)
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Sand off the tips

The copper wire has a coating. Lightly sand the coating off both tips of the wire.
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Bend your paper clips.

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Tape the paper clips to the ends of the battery.

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Slide the copper coil into the two loops so it hangs above the battery.

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Attach a magnet to the side of the battery underneath the coil.

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Give the coil a little tap to start the motor.​

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There are no rows in this table

Questions

Answer these questions in your science notebook.

Why do you think the coil is spinning?
How many magnetic fields are there in this contraption?
What would happen if the battery was dead?

Diagram

On another page, draw a diagram of the whole setup.

Use different colors for different parts.
Label all the parts.
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