Fields and Waves I Fall 1996 -- Design Project #1

Project Requirements

1. Read the description of the design project from the spring of 1995.
   Design Project 1, first page
   Design Project 1, second page
   Then and now, the motor coils are specified to be sufficiently open to allow a laser beam to pass through its center. The speed is then determined by counting the number of times per second that the beam is broken by the coil. The circuit used to detect the beam can be displayed using ghostscript by clicking on the following:
   Motor Speed Measurement Circuit
2. Read the problem statement and solution to the takehome problem from Quiz II, spring 1995. This problem addresses modeling the simple motor design shown in class on 7 October. The library reserve people removed this. They told me they were going to remove some things, but I thought they were done. I will post a copy of the solution on the bulletin board on the 6th floor of JEC.
3. Each group (1-4 students) must submit at least 2 designs and 2 working motors. Groups of 3 or 4 must submit one design and one motor per student. One report per group must present a model for each design, a discussion of why each design is an improvement on the basic design and why one of the group's designs is superior to the other. A recommendation: for your two designs, make one very simple and the other complicated.
4. For reference purposes, the basic design shown in class was made, following the guidelines put forth on Beakman's World, by winding the coil around a toilet paper role tube. 9 turns of what appears to be 26 gauge wire make up the coil/axle combination.
5. Motors will be tested during problem session time on 25 October, using the apparatus described in the spring of 1995. There will be one major difference in how the measurements are to be made. Only the frequency reading from the multimeter will be recorded ... it will not be corrected for how the coil interacts with the laser beam.
6. Each motor must use a D-Cell, two paper clips, and one or two of the magnets provided. The coil design is totally up to you. You can also add any materials to the motor, as long as you do not obstruct the line of sight for the laser. Enameled wire can be obtained from Prof. Connor. Any reasonable request for wire will be filled. However, you must have a specific size and length in mind when you ask him for it. You cannot use any active devices to enhance the performance of your motor.
7. As an aid in your design, you can read the Report on Design Project 1. Since you will have the advantage of this previous work, at least one of your designs must go faster than the average of the motors built in the spring of 1995. (See report)
8. While no one took this option the last time, anyone who wishes can design their motor for maximum operation time. This requires the most energy efficient design. It also requires a level of reliability that was achieved by only one or two earlier motors. Please contact Prof. Connor if you wish to follow this path.