A.J.p.

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Centro Universitario Franco Mexicano de
Monterrey A.C.
Ciclo Escolar 2010-2011

Physical Science: Monthly Project

Daniel Vásquez 2442

Teacher: Marc Hardy
Monterrey, Nuevo León, April 4th, 2011
Electricity and Magnetism have always been playing an
important role in our lives. In this project, the purpose is to
understand how this happens and an example of
Electromagnetism and how it is applied to our daily lives.
The project that I chose to do is an DC motor that uses
electricity and Magnetism. It is a basic thing that represents how
cars move. Although it is very simple, you can really appreciate
the forces acting on it, and it is also a simple way of learning
how it works. It´s interesting and easy to make.
Take a look!
1. Ask a question: How will a loop of wire with an electric current
react over a magnet under it? Will it spin or just stay in place?

2. Form a hypothesis: I think that if the loop of wire has no current,

then the magnet will not make it move, because it has nothing to attract or
repel. But if we apply a current to the loop, then it will begin spinning, because
the negative side of the magnet repel the negative magnetic field, and the
positive side of the magnet attract it.

3. Test the Hypothesis: In the first try, I disconnected the batteries

from the loop, and then gave it a little push. The wire just spun for a little and
then stopped. In the second try, I connected the batteries, and then gave the
loop a little push again. This time it began spinning very fast but if I tried to
move it in the other direction, it stopped and went in the same direction again.
Then I switched the direction of the current, and this time the results were the
opposite. The loop spun in the other direction. After this, the wire felt hot
because of thermal energy produced by the current in it.

4. Analyze the Results: The motor didn´t always spin in the

direction I started it, because it depends on the direction of the current. The
magnetic field is always made to the right, and the magnet attract that
magnetic field. So if you do not spin it in a way the magnet can interact with
the field, it will not move and it’ll spin in the other direction. If you reverse the
current it will spin in the other direction then. If you want to apply this to a
solar-power car, for example, the batteries are replaced by solar panels.

5. Draw conclusions: In this lab I discovered that car motor uses

electricity and magnetism to work. The spinning of the loop depends on the
direction of the current. If you switch current, you switch direction. If you do
not put current in the loop of wire, it will not move, because the magnet has
nothing to attract or repel.
With this project, I conclude that electromagnetism is an
important thing that help us move from place to place every
day: by a DC Motor inside cars.
A DC Motor needs a magnet, a loop of wire and a source of
energy to apply to the loop.
Whenever you connect the batteries, the magnet will attract or
repel the loop, depending on the poles. This reaction will make
the loop move. But if you switch connections, then the movement
is reversed, because you change the magnetic field of the current
in the loop into the other direction.
This is the basic idea of a motor. I t can be used in different ways
by adding or replacing thing s on it. For example, in solar-power
car you replaced batteries with solar panels.
Electromagnetism also works in microwaves, televisions, and
many other things we use daily.
Electromagnetism is important!