Activity (Hands-On)Grades 3 - 5
Get Your Motor Running
Students investigate motors and electromagnets as they construct their own simple electric motors using batteries, magnets, paperclips and wire.
Students investigate motors.Copyright 2011 S.J. de Waard, Wikimedia Commons http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rotterdam_Ahoy_Europort_2011_%2814%29.JPG
Look around you... motors are used in an unlimited number of everyday devices designed by engineers. Engineers must fully understand and apply the connection between electricity and magnetism as they design and build motors, or design better and more efficient motors.
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Create a simple motor.
- Describe how a motor uses an electromagnet and magnetic forces to work.
- Explain that motors are designed by engineers for use in various applications.