Problem with building motor!!! Help would be greatly appreciated!!! (1 Viewer)

[AndyS]

So I had to build a motor over the holidays, after putting everything together and connecting to a 12V DC power pack, the motor doesn't rotate but there's just a humming sound. Sparks are generated between the brushes and commutator segments so I don't think either would be an issue. Help would be greatly appreciated

 

[anomalousdecay]

Did you make a motor using a copper wire and pegs as shown?
If so you need to give it an initial push start, so that there is a magnetic flux in the copper coil.

Some motors (like those used for floor vacuum machines) tend to not really spin due to a lock in place on the motor (I have tried this at school).
If you really want to make a simple motor that will blow away your teacher's mind then do this:

Find an alternator from a car (this is an induction motor).
When representing the assignment, attach wires from the alternator's to a very sensitive voltmeter.
Then, simply spin the magnet of the alternator (this is why it is an induction motor) and you will get a voltage reading on the voltmeter (I have also tried this at school).

By the way, are you doing accelerated Physics? There is nothing about motors in the year 11 Physics course.