Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

Hello.
Basically our class has been given an assignment to create simple motor using the "Spin Right 'Round with this Simple Electric Motor" idea as a starting point.
I was wondering, how i could make the motor start automatically because i have added a switch.

Any help would be good
Thanks
Aublysodon

aublysodon - The Spin-Rite motor is an extremely basic motor that essentially has a single magnetic pole and an equally unsophisticted commutator (wire with insulation removed from 50% of it's diameter). Within the 360 degrees of shaft rotation, the motor will probably only start if the position of the shaft is within a 60 degree position. This i why this motor usually requires a nudge to start rotation. This is due to the magnet position and commutation action. Unless you can create an imbalance situation whereas the shaft always stops in the same position, and will reliably restart from that position, the odds of this motor starting with a simple switch action is quite small.

Rick Marz

Before you work on finding a way to get the motor to stop with the commutator in the contact position, see if when you place the motor in various parts of the contact position if the motor will start by applying battery voltage. If it won't start on its own, you have a problem that the inertia is too high, the internal resistance is too high, or the battery and leads won't supply the starting current. Starting DC electric motors has always been a challenge for engineers.