Is this STEM game free to use?

Yes. The interactive DC motor simulator runs free in any modern web browser, with no login or installation required.

What age group is it for?

It works well for students ages 8 to 14 (upper elementary and middle school) and can be used in class, for homeschool, or by curious kids at home.

Why does only half of each wire end need to be bare?

The half-bare ends form a simple, hand-made commutator: current can only flow into the armature while the bare copper half touches the supports, which switches the current on and off once every turn — that is what keeps the coil spinning in one direction instead of just locking up against the magnet.

Is there a physical kit to build the real motor?

Yes. The MiniScience Magnet Motor Kit (MMK) contains the battery holder, magnet wire, ceramic magnet, safety pins and wood block so students can build the physical motor after practicing with the online simulator.

Magnet Motor - Free Interactive STEM Game & DC Motor Simulator

Buy This Kit

🛒 Buy the Magnet Motor Kit

🚀 Click the battery form to start winding the armature!

Build Status

Coil Wound

Commutator Scraped

Magnet Placed

Circuit Complete

Armature Spinning

📄 Project Instructions 🎬 Video Demonstration

Full screen, sideways — easier to build

Rotate your phone to play

Step 1 of 3 — Wind the Armature

Real kit: wind 6-9 turns of magnet wire around an AA battery.

Step 2 of 3 — Scrape the Commutator

Sanding the wire end against sandpaper at a table edge

Close-up of a scraped wire end, bare copper facing up

Scrape the TOP half of the enamel off both ends — same side, both times.

Battery (AA)

Support A

Support B

🧲 Click to place the magnet

Armature

Build Guide

Instructions:
1. Click the battery form to wind the coil
2. Click each free end to scrape its commutator
3. Drag wires from the battery to both supports
4. Click the mounted coil to spin it

Required Connections:
• Battery (+) → Support A or B
• Battery (−) → the other Support
Either way round works — only the spin direction changes.

How a Magnet Motor Works

Armature: The hand-wound coil is the part that moves — a magnetic field builds up in it whenever current flows through.

Commutator: Scraping only HALF of each wire end makes a simple commutator: current can only enter the armature while the bare half touches the supports, switching on and off once per turn so the coil keeps spinning instead of locking against the magnet.

Field Magnet: The ceramic disk magnet under the coil provides the fixed magnetic field the armature's own field pushes against.

Try it for real: some physical kits wedge a toothpick in the battery holder as a simple on/off switch — try adding one to yours!