Magnetic Spinner

Diagram of experiment with magnetic field and current shown

STEM Topics / Areas

  • Electrical Engineering
  • General Engineering
  • Physics

Relevant Standards

Target Grades

Middle school, High school

Audience

Informal learning, classrooms, with parents, in pairs, individual students

Special Material Requirement

Yes

In this activity, students learn the concept of electromagnetism, and how the interaction between electric and magnetic fields, can create physical forces, thus making motion. The will create a very simple spinner (or motor) using a battery, magnets, and copper wires. They will experiment how modifying different elements in the setup changes the movement of the wire.