Today, you will be making an electric motor. When finished, your electric motor will look like the image above. If you follow the instructions carefully and precisely, your electric motor should work. If not, there will be a troubleshooting section at the end of this guide.

Step 1: Materials

The materials that you will need to build your electric motor are as follows:

1 D-cell Battery

1 magnet

2 medium sized paper clips

26 gauge magnet wire

1 rubber band

1 pair of wire cutters

Sandpaper

Step 2: Paperclips

Bend your two paperclips to look like the ones in the picture. If you want, a pair of small pliers can be used to help bend the paperclips. The paperclips will be used to support the wire coil, so make sure that they are as similar as possible.

Step 3: Rubber Band

Wrap the rubber band twice around the length of the D-cell battery.

Step 4: Assembly

Put the bent paperclips between the rubber band and the end of the battery, making sure to keep the top of the paperclips as level as possible. Put the magnet on the top side of the battery.

Step 5: Making the Coil

Cut about one foot of magnet wire using the wire cutters. Wrap the wire around the battery, leaving about five inches of wire on each side of the coil. The ends of the coil should go straight across the diameter of the coil. Remove the coil from the battery.

Step 6: Wrap the Ends of the Coil

Take the ends of the coil, and wrap them around the coil itself in order to hold the coil together.

Step 7: Sanding the Ends of the Coil

This is the most important step in the entire process. On one end of the coil, sand off ALL of the wire's enamel coating. On the other end of the coil, sand off HALF of the enamel coating. Make sure to be careful, and do not sand off too much or too little, or else, your motor won't work.

Step 8: Final Assembly

Use the wire cutters to snip the extra wire from the ends of the coil, leaving just enough for the coil to rest on top of the paperclips. Place the finished coil on the paperclips hook. Your electric motor should now work.