How to Make a Magnet Generator

This magnetic generator can power a light. You spin the nail, the magnets go around, and the light bulb lights up. Try it! Make sure you have all the materials before you start. Don't substitute them! Try making this cool generator.

You will need:

• Cardboard 8cm x 30.4cm

• 4 - 1x2x5cm ceramic magnet
• 1 - #30 Magnet wire 200ft
• 1 - Miniature Lamp, 1.5V 25mA Rad
• 1 - Large nail, 8cm long or more
• Sandpaper to strip the wires

Your cardboard needs to be 8 cm tall by 30.4 cm long.

Score the cardboard at 8 cm, 3.5 cm, 8 cm, 3.2 cm, 7.7 cm.

Then fold into a box and tape.

Puncture a hole in the middle of the box, then stick the nail through the holes.

Make sure the nail goes all the way through the box.

Make sure the nail can spin freely.

Take out your nail.

Tape the end of the wire to the box.

Wrap the wire around the box about 250 times.

Make sure it fits comfortably without coming off.*

Use sandpaper to scrape off both ends of the wire.

If your wire breaks, use sandpaper to strip the ends of the wire where it snapped, and twist together.

*If you wrap the wire too tight, it will collapse the box.

Put the nail back in.

Hot glue two magnets (stacked up) to each side of the nail.

Do not tape the magnets. It disrupts the flow of electricity.

Twist the ends of the wire to the ends of the light.

Spin your nail.

If you spin your nail fast enough, the light should light up.

It works because there is wire surrounding the magnets. When the magnets have wire around them, there is pressure. It is called voltage. The faster you spin the magnets, the more voltage you have. That is why the light lights up.