What Makes a Motor Run?

Montshire Museum teacher Mike Fenzel helped students in the third grade learn how to make small motors run by using wires and batteries. Students discovered how to make complete circuits so that the electricity would run in a circle through the battery and motor. They attached a wire to each of the two contact points on the motor and then attached one of the wires to the positive pole of the battery and the other wire to the negative pole of the battery. The students found that by reversing the wires, they could make the motor spin in the opposite direction.

Mr. Fenzel also provided motors for the students to take apart. Inside, they found and examined the small magnets and brushes that turn the motor when electrical current runs through it. Students enjoyed making circuits from different combinations and numbers of batteries, light bulbs, and wires. They also learned about and made both series and parallel circuits.