Simple Electric Motor Project: Materials & Instructions

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Last Updated: October 1, 2024 Approved

Electric motors power all kinds of things you probably use every day, like your fridge, washing machine, and even electric toothbrush. Building your own simple electric motor is actually really easy. To help you out, we've put together a step-by-step guide to making a basic electric motor that includes everything you'll need to get started.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Winding the Coil

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Tape the pencils in a two by two cluster. This will give you something solid to wrap your coil around. You can substitute the pencils for a cylinder that’s roughly half an inch in diameter. ^{[1]
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Once you have the pencils taped or find a suitable cylinder, begin wrapping your wire around it tightly. Start in the middle of the wire and wrap the coil fifteen times toward one end and fifteen times toward the other. Once you have finished wrapping the coil, remove the pencils from the middle. This will leave you with two loose leads at either end of the coil. ^{[2]
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Wrap the loose ends around either side of the coil three or four times. This will help keep the coil wound tightly. Point the remaining loose ends straight out away from the coil. ^{[3]
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Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Connecting the Battery

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Use tape or clay to hold the battery in place on a flat surface like a tabletop or desk. This will allow you to connect it to the coil without having to hold it with your hands. Make sure the battery is laying on its side so that you can easily reach both terminals. ^{[4]
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Use wire strippers to remove the insulation on either end of the wire, but only one half of the insulation, such that the bare wire will be connected to the circuit only half the time. These leads will connect to the battery and allow current to flow through the coil. If you sand the wire all the way around, the wire will heat up or move back and forth, and the motor will not work. ^{[5]
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A needle makes the perfect holder for the wire leads. Insert each end into the eye of a separate needle. You can also bend two paper clips (one for each side) to make a holder. ^{[6]
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4
Tape the needles to the battery terminals. Once you have the wire in both needles, it’s time to hook your wire up to the battery. Tape one needle to the positive side of the battery (marked with a “+”). Tape the other needle to the negative side of the battery (marked with a “-”). ^{[7]
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- Be sure the needles are pointing with the sharp end down toward the battery and the eye at the top holding the coil.
- Do not let either needle touch both sides of the battery.
- Once both leads are connected, there will be an electric current running through the needles and the wire. It is best to use rubber or insulated gloves for this step.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Introducing the Magnet

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Once a current is flowing through the coil, it can interact with a magnet. Either hold the magnet close to the coil, or tape it to the battery right underneath the coil. The closer the magnet is to the coil the stronger it will interact. ^{[8]
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See what happens when you spin the coil. Depending on the direction the current is flowing and the side of the magnet that is interacting with the coil, the coil may continue to spin or may not. If the coil does not keep spinning, try spinning the other direction. ^{[9]
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Different variations will give you different results. The coil may spin faster, slower, or not at all if you change something. Try moving the magnet closer to or further from the coil, pick a stronger or weaker magnet, or use the other side of the magnet. These variations are a fun way to understand the forces in an electric motor. ^{[10]
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Community Q&A

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Question

Why do I use sand? Is it to eliminate friction losses between wires?

Community Answer

The article is actually referring to sandpaper. You use sandpaper because the wire used for making the coil is enameled copper wire, which means the copper wire has an insulation coating. To ensure that there is proper contact between the coil end and the battery lead, you need to remove this enamel coating. So you use sandpaper to rub it off.

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What can I use this electrical motor for?

Community Answer

Other than a learning experience, not much. This motor is fairly weak, and won't generate enough power to move anything. It will make a great science fair project, however.

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What are the uses of an electric motor?

Community Answer

Electric motors have many uses. Motors which are used in simple circuits help in giving a better understanding of electricity, motion and technology to the students. Large motors used in cars or locomotives help in motion. Motors are a key component of the industrial world and the technological advances we are all familiar with today.

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Tips

This setup works better on flat surfaces

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For high speed stability, you can make an oval shaped motor.

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If this is your first electrical project you might need help cutting the wire correctly.

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Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

For a faster spinning motor, connect a big gear to the coil and add another axle. Make sure a small gear is connected to the axle so the bigger gear can increase its speed.
Use a stronger magnet like neodymium, more wire, and a higher voltage battery to increase your motor's speed.
For kids, always make sure an adult is nearby when working on projects requiring power.
Always remember to put masking tape on the wire to avoid an electrical shock.
You can also use cardboard if you don't have a cup on hand.

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Warnings

If you use a thin wire and a strong current, your wires can get extremely hot!

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If a child is doing the project, make sure to provide the necessary adult supervision to avoid any accidents.

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Things You'll Need

Pencils
Insulated Copper Wire
Wire Strippers
Electrical Tape
Two Needles
Magnets
Battery—AA to a D battery would work for this project

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Simple Electric Motor Project: Materials & Instructions

Steps

Winding the Coil

Connecting the Battery

Introducing the Magnet

Community Q&A

Tips

Tips from our Readers

Warnings

Things You'll Need

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