Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Build a Reed Switch Motor
After building a simple electric motor from a kit, with this experiment you can explore how voltage affects motor speed. The Science Buddies project ideas are set up consistently beginning with an abstract, objective, and introduction,...
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Spin Right 'Round With This Simple Electric Motor
If you put on clothes that were washed in a washing machine, rode in a car, ate food from a fridge, warmed up lunch in a microwave, or played a video game, you used an electric motor. Try this science fair project and you'll learn how to...
Other
Institute for the Preservation of Elevator History: Frank J. Sprague
Biography of Sprague, who is responsible for the development of electric trailways, electric elevators, and a commercial form of the electric motor.
Museum of Science
Museum of Science and Industry: Online Science: Build an Electric Motor
Step-by-step illustrated instructions show how to build a simple electric motor using everyday materials to make a wire coil spin. An explanation of the science involved is given at the end, as well as tips on troubleshooting any...
National Geographic
National Geographic: Round and Round With Simple Motors
After developing a hypothesis on how a motor works, students investigate this by building a simple electric motor, using the scientific method as they proceed. Includes handouts and worksheets, as well as a vocabulary list with...
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: How to Make a Homopolar Motor
In this quick activity, you will make a simple motor using nothing but a battery, magnet, and a piece of wire.
Science Museum, London
Science Museum: Pocket Motor
Teacher directed activity shows students how flowing electrical current produces a magnetic field by building a simple motor.
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
Magnet Academy: Barlow's Wheel
English mathematician Peter Barlow devised an instrument in 1822 that built on advances from earlier in the century (including the invention the battery) to create a very early kind of electric motor.
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
Magnet Academy: Dc Motor
Electric motors turn electricity into motion by exploiting electromagnetic induction.
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
Magnet Academy: Faraday Motor
Just a year after electromagnetism was discovered, the great scientific thinker Michael Faraday figured out how to turn it into motion. (Java tutorial)
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
Magnet Academy: Magnetic Shunt
Magnetic shunts are often used to adjust the amount of flux in the magnetic circuits found in most electrical motors. (Java tutorial)
Exploratorium
Exploratorium: Science Snacks: Motor Effect
Create a simple device to see how a force is exerted on a current by a magnetic field. This activity shows how an electric motor can be made with this force.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Electric Motors
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] The design and function of electric motors are covered in this lesson.
Exploratorium
Exploratorium: Science Snacks: Stripped Down Motor
Learn how to make an electric motor in this simple activity.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Get Your Motor Running
Students investigate motors and electromagnets as they construct their own simple electric motors using batteries, magnets, paper clips and wire.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Two Sides of One Force
Learners learn more about magnetism, and how magnetism and electricity are related in electromagnets. They learn the fundamentals about how simple electric motors and electromagnets work. Students also learn about hybrid...
Exploratorium
Exploratorium: Science Snacks: Motor Effect
"A magnet exerts a force on current-carrying wire." This simple device shows how magnets affect wires with current in them, the basis of the electric motor. If you see, feel and understand this, the electric motor becomes very clear.
BBC
Bbc: Gcse Bitesize: Electromagnets Higher
This lesson explains how a DC electric motor works including a diagram and description and links to a video and a test.
Discovery Education
Discovery Education: Build Your Own Perpetual Motion Machine [Pdf]
A lesson for learners to explore the conversion of energy from electrical energy to kinetic energy by constructing a homopolar motor. Also by constructing the motor, students can investigate magnetism, electricity, and RPM.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Physical Science: Electromagnetic Devices
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Describes electromagnetic devices and how they work.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: A Practical Application of Electro Magnetism
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] This lesson explains how an electric motor works.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Physics Simulation: Electric Motor
[Free Registration/Login Required] Learn how magnetic forces acting on current-carrying wires can be used to drive an electric motor using this interactive simulation. A PDF worksheet and a video tutorial are also available. [2:47]
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Generators and Motors
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] This lesson explains how a generator and a motor work. Includes a simulation for exploring generators.
Science is Fun
Science Is Fun: Build an Electric Motor
Instructions for how to build a simple electric motor.