A zero sequence motor is a simple electric motor made of two magnetic poles. It was invented at the beginning of the 19th century and has no practical application these days; however, it may be useful for demonstration or to understand how electrical currents and motors work. Building one of these engines is very easy and fun, but requires some caution. Magnets weighing more than 30 g (1 oz) should never be used, as doing so runs the risk of pinching your hand or crushing the battery. Zero sequence motors offer limitless opportunities for creativity since virtually any copper wire that is nearly symmetrical in shape can be adapted as a design for this type of motor.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Make a Basic Zero-sequence Motor
Step 1. Prepare the materials for the motor
You will need a neodymium magnet, wood screw, spool of thin gauge copper wire (1.3mm or # 16 gauge), wire cutters, needle nose pliers, and an AA battery. Make sure to use bare, non-magnetic, and somewhat flexible wire since coated copper wires are generally made of multiple thin copper strands that are woven together to form a wire that resembles a rope. This type of wire is too weak to maintain a flexible shape which is a quality you will want to have later on.
The magnet should be a flattened cylinder with a diameter of no more than one centimeter. You must be careful so that young children do not play with the magnet and not to place it on or near any electronic equipment such as a tablet, a phone or an MP3 player
Step 2. Place the screw head on the magnet
In other words, the tip of the screw should protrude directly from the magnet and its flat head should be set against it in such a way that it is perfectly in the center, with an equal amount of space along the entire perimeter between the edge of the magnet and the edge of screw head.
If you want to adjust the position of the screw on the magnet, you can slide it and if you want to use another screw for some reason (or you suddenly find that you have to hang a picture along with the screw), try pushing it instead of pulling it
Step 3. Hold the positive end of the AA battery (the one with the protruding tip) just above the sharp point of the screw
Hold the battery with your thumb and middle finger and lower the battery over the screw so that the tip of the screw makes contact approximately with the center point of the positive battery pole. The battery should be on top of the screw, which should be on top of the battery in a vertical line.
Step 4. Close the loop
With your free hand, bring one end of the copper wire to the negative pole (the flat end) of the battery and hold it at the top with your index finger, then bring the other end of the copper wire to the battery and make contact with it so that the screw and the magnet begin to rotate.
- You may hear a small noise or hum when the circuit is closed.
- If it doesn't start spinning, try reversing the magnet's polarity. Remove the screw, flip the magnet, and reattach it with the screw.
Method 2 of 3: Make a Homopolar Motor That Stalls by Itself
Step 1. Place the neodymium magnet on the flat end of the battery
A neodymium magnet is a rare earth magnet made of neodymium and it is extremely strong. Gently place the magnet on the bottom of the battery and then put them together on a flat surface.
Step 2. Bend the wire into a heart shape
Measure the total height of the battery and magnet together and find a heart-shaped template from a coloring book or print one from a computer. Then lay the template on a flat surface, find the middle of the copper wire and lay it over the tip where the acute angle forms on the heart-shaped template and from there the wire should curve up and out from the center point and then descend towards the base of the battery.
Step 3. Use the measurements of the battery and the magnet together to adapt the shape
Make sure the center point of the wire heart touches the positive pole and the bottom closes around the magnet. The two ends of the cable should close around the battery on each side and form a closed loop. The cable should touch the sides of the battery without pressing them in such a way that it does not limit or prevent the movement of the cable around the battery when the battery begins to rotate.
Step 4. Make small adjustments to the wire you have formed
Detailed adjustment of the shape of the wire may require you to repeat the process of attaching it to the battery pack with the magnet several times, checking for symmetry and balance, and widening or adjusting the loop formed by the two "arms. "of the heart found around the base. Make sure the loop around the magnet does not come into contact with the table; doing so will cause friction and this will hamper the speed and efficiency of your zero sequence motor.
Step 5. Start the engine
Once the wire shape is ready, you can place it on the positive pole of the battery and watch the wire shape go round and round. If you're in a relationship, this homopolar motor design can make a romantic homemade gift.
Method 3 of 3: Make a Homopolar Motor in the Shape of a Dancer
Step 1. Start by making a loop that fits around the magnet
Like the heart-shaped copper wire, this zero sequence motor uses a single AA battery that sits upright with the positive pole pointing upward on a neodymium magnet. Loop some copper wire around the magnet without completely touching the base. An oval loop that touches the battery at only two points works the same as a circular loop that grips the entire magnet.
Step 2. Bend the wire into a spiral shape
When the loop around the base is complete, bend the wire up so that it is away from the loop around the magnet. The diameter of the spiral should be only a few millimeters wider than that of the battery and should only reach half the height of the battery.
Step 3. Change the direction of the wire to a perfectly vertical line
At a point about three millimeters above the highest point on the battery, bend the cable inward to form a ninety-degree angle toward the center of the positive pole, and when the cable is over the center point of the positive pole, bend it down so that it touches the tip and fold it back so that it goes up the other way.
Step 4. Make a little ballerina
Instead of a heart shape, bend the copper wire into a ballerina shape with your arms outstretched. Start by bending the upward-pointing wire in a ninety-degree bend about 1.5 inches (4 cm) above the positive pole of the battery. Then, about 0.4 inches (1 cm) from this first bend, make a tight crease that returns the wire to the 90-degree angle you made.
Step 5. Bend the wire up at a ninety degree angle into a circular shape about the size of a nickel
This will be the head of the dancer. When you are on the other side of the ballerina's "neck", lower the cable down the other side and repeat all the folds you just made to end up with a "T" shape with a circle above the center joint. However, you cannot end where you started (on the center tip at the positive pole of the battery), instead you will have to cut the wire about half a centimeter above the positive pole of the battery.