Electromagnetic Motor/ Magnet Orientation

[Decoherence]

I've been building an electromagnetic wheel (a bike wheel which rotates by electromagnetic interaction between electromagnets on the hub and permanent magnets on the rim) and I've come across an interesting problem. Currently, I've got the electromagnets mounted on the hub with the coils pointed towards the rim, where the permanent magnets are mounted with their poles perpendicular to the coils of the electromagnet. I decided to do this because I figured that the electromagnets would have an easier time reaching the next pole in their rotation if the permanent magnet poles were closer to each other, as my concern at the time was that electromagnets wouldn't be strong enough to interact fully with the permanent magnetic field. However, my physics teacher/adviser for this project informed me that I could achieve far greater rotational force if I mount the permanent magnets with the faces parallel to the electromagnet coils. I'm wondering if it makes a tremendous amount of difference; does anyone have any insights? I'll try to post pictures at a later date to help out.
Thanks!

 

[Decoherence]

Apologies for double posting, but does anyone have any insight into this? I've been having some trouble finding the information I need.

 

[astrokreng]

I can provide some insights on this topic. First, it is important to understand the basic principles of electromagnetic interactions. Electromagnets work by creating a magnetic field when an electric current passes through their coils. This magnetic field interacts with the permanent magnets, causing them to rotate.

In your current setup, the electromagnets are facing towards the rim, while the permanent magnets are perpendicular to the coils. This means that the magnetic field created by the electromagnets is not directly interacting with the permanent magnets, but rather passing through them. This can result in a weaker force and less efficient rotation.

On the other hand, if you were to mount the permanent magnets with their poles parallel to the coils of the electromagnet, the magnetic field created by the electromagnets would interact directly with the permanent magnets, resulting in a stronger force and more efficient rotation.

In terms of the overall performance of your electromagnetic wheel, the orientation of the permanent magnets does make a significant difference. By mounting them parallel to the coils, you can achieve a greater rotational force and improve the efficiency of the system.

I would also recommend experimenting with different distances between the electromagnets and the permanent magnets to find the optimal setup for your specific project. Additionally, as you mentioned, posting pictures would be helpful in understanding the exact setup and providing more specific suggestions.

Overall, it is important to consider the principles of electromagnetic interactions and the orientation of the magnets in order to achieve the best performance for your electromagnetic wheel. Good luck with your project!