How to make a motor | Do Try This At Home | We The Curious

Motors are used in everything from cars, to planes, to robots - and it's easy to make one for yourself at home. Nerys and Sarah of the Live Science Team show you how to make a simple motor using only a battery, a wire, a magnet, and a screw.

This video was presented by: Sarah Stephens and Nerys Shah, Live Science Team.
Produced by: Ross Exton, Live Science Video Producer

We The Curious is an idea and a place for everyone. We’re all about asking questions, being playful and testing things out. An educational charity that removes boundaries around science - connecting art, people, everything, in a united culture of curiosity.

Music: Provided courtesy of YouTube Audio Library

[MTallon]

Dear Sarah and Nerys! I very environmentally minded, and I'd like to just stop driving my petroleum-based car. (The engine of my car (an old Chevy Malibu (from 1987) uses gas (as we call it in America (though I've heard you call it Petrol (which is a wonderfully funny sounding word I love it (PETROL! (Ha!))

But I was wondering, how large a small battery would I need (and how much (copper (wire)) would I need to power each of my wheels? I have four wheels. Or would I have to use four (separate) batteries for each (one) wheel? Also . . . medium large?

You guys are great and awesome! You are saving the planet one car at a time! (Earth I mean.)

[Joelmonterrey]

Keep making videos, ladies! We need more female science stars. ;-)

[ErrorNotification]

who in the hell downvotes this stuff? wtf

[richardlawrence]

Shorting out any battery is considered to be a dangerous practise, should you really be encouraging people to do this?