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About Dan Fink
Expertise
Though my experience is mostly in the fields of electricity, magnetism, and physics, I have a broad science background. My career is in the field of alternative power sources -- solar, wind, water and battery power. But any questions about electricity, magnetism, energy conservation, power generation, electric motors, and even general physics are very welcome--especially from kids. They ask the best questions of all! I pride myself in answering science questions accurately, with ideas for SAFE, easy experiments that kids can perform by themselves--and that let them prove the answers to their own satisfaction. I think science should be fun, and available to everyone, regardless of age.

Experience
I have volunteered in our local public schools for 5 years. I currently make presentations at our schools about electricity and magnetism, with a focus on solar, wind, water and other alternative power sources. I try to demonstrate at our schools how easy it is to make electricity, with simple devices using spinning magnets and coils of wire--powered by wind, water, bicycles, gerbils...etc. And of course solar panels! I am the webmaster of Otherpower.com, an alternative energy website. I have lived 10 miles from the nearest power pole for 11 years--I make all my own electricity from scratch with sun, wind and water.

Publications
Otherpower.com
Wondermagnet.com
Co author of the book "Homebrew Wind Power" ISBN 978-0-9819201-0-8
My articles appear regularly in such magazines as Home Power and Back Home
Education/Credentials
BA Technical Journalism

You are here: Experts > Science > Science/Nature for Kids > Science for Kids > magnets and electro magnets

Science for Kids - magnets and electro magnets

Expert: Dan Fink - 11/4/2009

Question
QUESTION: My daughter is trying to work out an experiment with magnets and electromagnets and wants to see that together they produce continious rotation. This is for her science fair project.She is in grade 5 and most projects and experiments show up as a motor. We are looking for something simple to make and she can provide data, etc. She and her father started on a really advanced experiment but now they are unable to go any further as it won't work. Please help! We have some materials already. Permanent magnets, coils, nails, battery, plexi glass disc.

ANSWER: Hi Shelly --

By definition, anything that spins when electric current is applied is an electric motor. The magnetic fields needed can come from either permanent magnets or electromagnets, though one of each is needed.

This is probably the easiest to build electric motor I've ever tried, and it sounds like you already have the materials needed to build it:
http://fly.hiwaay.net/~palmer/motor.html

Let me know if you have further questions or if that was not what you were looking for. You should be able to build this one in a couple hours.

DAN

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Dan,
Thanks for the prompt reply. My daughter will be using the set they already had. Two or one permanent magnet with two heavy duty nails with about 400 coils around them, set on a plexi glass disc. This is going to be a DC motor as we do not want her playing around with AC. The problem that they are facing is that they can not get the disc to rotate long enough. It keeps stopping and they have to give it a push by hand in order to start. At this level we do not want to use brushes, ect. Now how will she get this going and produce data for this experiment. I'm just learning about the different motors via the internet and I did come across the beakmans motor. But they want to stick with their contraption.

Answer
Hi Shelly --

If there is any way you can get a photo(s) of the project they are currently trying to do and send it in another query, it would help me immensely. For very simple electric motor experiments, the iron core of the nail is usually not needed--the relatively heavy weight of it can cause more problems than it fixes. If I do not hear back from you soon, I can contemplate possible solutions, and reply tomorrow. But a picture would clear things up instantly on this end.
DAN

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