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Static electricity/Static motors

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Problem

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Most motors used today use magnetic fields to create the motion. But it is possible to create motors that run off static fields. Why is a stationary electric field not used as much as a stationary magnetic field?

Conceive

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Design

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The designs appear to be easy to create from the videos.

First attempt worked

But the spinning bottle bounced back and forth. Next attempt used metal and bearings to stabilize, but failed.

  • The materials used in final product.
    The materials used in final product.
  • Step 1: Emptied soda bottles and removed the labels.
    Step 1: Emptied soda bottles and removed the labels.
  • Step 2: Cut 5.5 " strips of aluminum tape and stuck them to the middle bottle.
    Step 2: Cut 5.5 " strips of aluminum tape and stuck them to the middle bottle.
  • Step 3: Made three sections, with 0.5 " in between each section (only on the middle bottle).
    Step 3: Made three sections, with 0.5 " in between each section (only on the middle bottle).
  • Step 4: Covered the outer two bottles completely with the aluminum tape.
    Step 4: Covered the outer two bottles completely with the aluminum tape.
  • Step 5: Measured the wood and drilled holes in appropriate places. (at 4.5 ", 9 , and 13.5 ".
    Step 5: Measured the wood and drilled holes in appropriate places. (at 4.5 ", 9 , and 13.5 ".
  • Step 6: Created a "dimple" in the metal bottle cap used with the middle bottle (with a dull nail).
    Step 6: Created a "dimple" in the metal bottle cap used with the middle bottle (with a dull nail).
  • Step 7: Drilled holes in the bottom of the bottles.
    Step 7: Drilled holes in the bottom of the bottles.
  • Step 8: Screwed the outer two bottles to the wood with a long rod, duct tape, and plumbers putty. Cut a metal rod ,similiar to a coat hangar, filed the end to a point (for a better spin), and used for the middle bottle.
    Step 8: Screwed the outer two bottles to the wood with a long rod, duct tape, and plumbers putty. Cut a metal rod ,similiar to a coat hangar, filed the end to a point (for a better spin), and used for the middle bottle.
  • Step 9: Taped a wire to each outer bottle and pointed them towards the middle bottle. Taped a small wire "loop" to the bottle so it could be hooked up to an electrostatic generator.
    Step 9: Taped a wire to each outer bottle and pointed them towards the middle bottle. Taped a small wire "loop" to the bottle so it could be hooked up to an electrostatic generator.
  • Step 10: Checked the resistance with a multi-meter.
    Step 10: Checked the resistance with a multi-meter.
  • Step 11: Taped a ring of aluminum foil around the top of the soda bottle because the adhesive on the aluminum tape was nonconductive.
    Step 11: Taped a ring of aluminum foil around the top of the soda bottle because the adhesive on the aluminum tape was nonconductive.
  • Step 12: Done!
    Step 12: Done!

Implement

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Try to build each of the designs in the videos.

Operate

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The goal is to operate with a minature whimshusrt machine built from a soda bottle as in one of the videos. This way an external whimshurt machine is not needed.

Demo

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presentation

Next Steps

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  • Get the existing static motors working again
  • Build new soda bottle motor with soda bottle generator
  • Build can version
  • Build cyclotron
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