Homopolar Motor

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bbcfamily4
Posts: 3
Joined: Sat Apr 05, 2014 1:48 pm
Occupation: student 4th grade
Project Question: I created a homopolar motor and want to know why when I changed the magnets polarity the wire spun in a different direction.
Project Due Date: 4/7/2014
Project Status: I am finished with my experiment and analyzing the data

Homopolar Motor

Post by bbcfamily4 »

My son has built a homopolar motor and we can not figure out the science reason for the following:
When the magnet is flipped over the copper wire spins in a different direction, why????
connief
Former Expert
Posts: 302
Joined: Thu Apr 04, 2013 12:27 pm
Occupation: Graduate Student
Project Question: I am volunteering for the "Ask an Expert" program.
Project Due Date: I am volunteering for the "Ask an Expert" program.
Project Status: Not applicable

Re: Homopolar Motor

Post by connief »

Hello there,

I do not know much about how homopolar motors work, but I think this question will be better to pose to the experts in the physical sciences forum--they may be able to better explain this phenomenon to you!

Best,
Connie
bbcfamily4
Posts: 3
Joined: Sat Apr 05, 2014 1:48 pm
Occupation: student 4th grade
Project Question: I created a homopolar motor and want to know why when I changed the magnets polarity the wire spun in a different direction.
Project Due Date: 4/7/2014
Project Status: I am finished with my experiment and analyzing the data

Re: Homopolar Motor

Post by bbcfamily4 »

Thank you Connie - I will try that!
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