How simple can an electric motor be???

Make your own working motor with this nifty kit. It is easy to put together, and as you do you'll learn the fundamentals of how a motor works. The World's Simplest Motor comes with copper wire, a magnet, armature pieces and a battery holder. Basically everything you need to build your simple working motor, apart from one D battery - you'll need to provide that yourself. It also includes step-by-step instructions and a short explanation of a working motor. This hands-on kit is an excellent way to teach basic physics principals and the workings of an electric motor. 

How does it work?

The motor works because electricity from the battery runs through the copper coil, creating a magnetic field and turning the coil into a magnet. The copper coil is an example of an electromagnet, and its magnetism can be turned on and off with electricity. The now magnetic coil, pushes away from the permanent ceramic magnet housed directly underneath it with enough force to turn the coil all the way around. As the coil turns around, it becomes charged again and gets another push. This process happens again and again to keep the motor turning. Cool!   Teach:

         How a motor works

• Electromagnetism
• Electrical energy and circuits
• Magnets