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Hard⏱ time1.5 hr$ cost12

Hand-Crank Generator

Spin a magnet past a coil and you generate real electricity — enough to light an LED by hand.

Start building ↓
fig — working model Result first

The build

Step 01

Wind the coil

Wind hundreds of turns of wire onto the bobbin.

Step 02

Mount the magnet

Fix magnets on a shaft that spins close to the coil.

Step 03

Wire the LED

Connect the coil ends to an LED.

Step 04

Crank it

Spin fast and the LED glows.

Working Principle

A moving magnet changes the magnetic flux through the coil, which induces a voltage that drives current — electromagnetic induction.

The science behind it

A closer look

Faraday's law says induced voltage rises with more turns, stronger magnets, and faster spinning, which is exactly how power-station generators work.

Take it further

Variables to test

  • 1 Add more coil turns — does the LED brighten?
  • 2 Spin faster and slower; relate speed to brightness.

More Physics