Physics Demo Number: 162

Approximate Run Time: 3 min

St. Louis Motor Shows Torque on A Current Loop in a Magnetic Field

Demo Description

A St. Louis Motor can be used to show torque on a current loop in a magnetic field.

Scientific Principles

• Permanent magnet fields can provide mechanism for obtaining mechanical energy from chemical energy by exerting torques on current loops.

Equipment

• St. Louis Motor

• Battery

• Hookup wires

• Document Camera

Equipment Location

• Kit 162 is on [B-1-3].

• Document Camera is in Its Drawer in Lecture Hall

1

2

Instructions

The first photo shows the motor running quite briskly, with the total circuit shown in the second photo.

The flash on the camera kicked in on the second photo to freeze the motion of the rotor.

Placing the motor on the staging area of the document camera gives the view of the first photo on the big class screen.

Writeup created by David A. Burba

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