Thread: a moter

I want to make a motor, so that I can make electricity for fun. What do I need for that? How much money will it cost? I don't want it to be a dinky one.

What will turn your motor? Electricity, steam, diesel, hamster, or hand-cranking?

Hand crank for now...
I want to just be able to turn basicly any mechanicle motion into electricity

OK, you want to build a generator, not a motor. It can be simple enough. Any bar magnet that turns within a coil of wire can generate an electric current.

Here are plans for a simple generator: http://amasci.com/amateur/coilgen.html. It can be made from supplies available at Radio Shack costing about $7.50 USD. Watch the video and let us know if this project meets your needs.

I was hoping for somethig a little more... long lasting than cardboard.
That realy helped though. thank you.
the site said
you are working against electrical friction in order to create the heat and light
I don't know much about physics, but I'm currently taking calculus, so I'm thinking I can understand any math you throw at me to a point. What is a formula for the amount of work that needs to be done in order to turn the crank as the electricity is used? I want to be able to do all of the math, including gear ratios (wich I can do), leverage (I can do) etc. before I make my thing. I don't know almost anything about electricity though.

Isn't a motor just a generator that you put electricity into, by the way? I told you... I'm good at math, but don't know much about science.