Elementary motor: Magnet, wire and battery make a simple motor.

A strong magnet (Neodymium) attaches to the base of a 1.5 Volt battery. A bare copper wire then connects the top of the battery and the magnet. A current flows from the battery through the case of the magnet through the copper wire and then through the top of the battery. This creates a magnetic field which the Neodymium magnet exerts a force on and the wire rotates around the battery. If the magnet is reversed, the wire rotates in the opposite direction. (The nail is just an axle to keep the wire from coming off. It sticks to the battery since the battery case is ferromagnetic.)
UCB Index: 
D+45+8
PIRA Index: 
5H40.70
Demo Diagram: 

UCB Taxonomy:

Popularity:

Comments

There is a strong magnet, a D cell, and a wire setup that spins at a high rate of speed in 54-2 in Pimentel. I've also added a number of small neodymium magnets that can be used as an axel instead of the nail for some extra oomph.