Paper Clip Motor

How to make a very simple motor from two paper clips, a length of enameled wire, a magnet, and a DC power supply. Sorry about the hard-to-read credits; Movie Maker was the only program I had available that would do a credit roll. (Yeah, I know. I'm working on a MUCH better replacement system, using POVRay.) Anyway, enjoy! Comments / criticism welcome.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• motor
• science
• fun
• electric
• electricity
• gadget
• tech
• technology
• sparks
• paper
• clip
• howto
• cool
• wire
• power

[sarid18]

QUESTION: WHY THE MARKER AND THE KNIFE?

[FlyByPC]

@sarid18 The marker really isn't needed (except that it can make a useful wire form); the knife is used to scrape away the enamel insulation on the ends of the wire, so it can make contact with the paper clips.

[skierplaterandy]

that might wreck the springs in the breadboard, they arent supposed to fit thick objects like saftey pins

[FlyByPC]

True -- but at $4 or so for the breadboard, it was worth it. You can get away with it for a few times before the sockets get too loose.

[skierplaterandy]

yea i have a breadboard i have had for awhile(my only 1) and i didnt have very good wires. eventually i got some solid core wire for hookups bit i didnt realize it was too high gauge untill i found out it was hard to put it in. i have some really screwed up holes now. i wanna order 2 more and slot them all together for big projects (or lots of little organized ones)

[FlyByPC]

Try mpja (.) com; they have them for cheap.

[beeaich]

@coughyouallsuck , but given that whatever path on the body you choose has a certain resistance (impedance actually but whatever), you need a certain voltage to force the flow.

And what about 0.16A flowing from one finger to another (same hand)? That would not kill you.

Given that what you usually control DIRECTLY is voltage, I say -frying a finger or other, is done by applying voltage.

Actual amperage depends on where and how you apply it.

[stormbytes]

why why why such hideous noise for a "soundtrack" ??

[rantaoca]

haha, he just got pwned =D

[hpjc10]

do a little research about how motors and electricity work... we are actually building motors in Physics class and im looking for a good design...