How does a portable fan work?

[driedupfish]

I am curious as to how a portable fan works. I took one apart and here are some pictures of the motor:
https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B9FkpE8S_7W0NTEwOGZlYzUtMzhkNS00ZmU4LWE5O DItN2Q5NWViNDNmOGMz&hl=en&invite=CIrB408
https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B9FkpE8S_7W0MjM3MTAwNTUtODRlYy00ZThiLWE0M zUtMWI3MjAzMjA4MjI0&hl=en&invite=CPXusNgG
https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B9FkpE8S_7W0ZGI5MzMwMzUtYTU4NS00ZGEwLWE3O WQtNTU1NzExYmIxMmMx&hl=en&invite=CKaQ1bkG
https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B9FkpE8S_7W0ODlmYTJmMWUtNDJiNC00Mzk2LWI5N 2MtMzA0NzI1YTI2NGI3&hl=en&invite=CPKwofAL

[pallidin]

Your kidding, right?
If not, what part of a portable fan do you not understand?

[MotoH]

Your kidding, right?
If not, what part of a portable fan do you not understand?

Don't be so mean!

Here are some links:
Electric motor (http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/brushless-motor.htm)
How a fan works (air currents) (http://ezinearticles.com/?How-Does-A-Ceiling-Fan-Work?&id=727947)

These should set you in the right direction!

[bassplayer142]

By the looks of the picture it is an AC motor. Search induction motor.

[TurtleMeister]

The motor in your pictures is called a "shaded pole" motor. Most all small AC fan motors will be of this type.

Edit: Bassplayer142 is also correct. It's a shaded pole induction motor. :)

[resaypi]

you can try building your own with some wire and a magnet and dc source

[driedupfish]

If you guys look at the first picture, there seems to be copper wiring around the magnet. Can someone explain the function of this? Sorry if this is a stupid topic, I really have no idea.

[zoobyshoe]

If you guys look at the first picture, there seems to be copper wiring around the magnet. Can someone explain the function of this? Sorry if this is a stupid topic, I really have no idea.

The "magnet" is actually not a permanent magnet, it's just layers of soft steel. That copper coil is what turns it into a magnet. Whenever you put current through a conductor you automatically create a magnetic field. When you wrap that conductor around soft steel or iron, it turns the metal into a magnet. In this way you can turn the magnet on or off by turning the current on or off. Likewise you can change the North pole of the magnet to a South pole by simply switching the direction of the current! This is what they mean when they speak of an electromagnet. A permanent magnet cannot be turned on or off, and the North and South poles can't change place.

Edit: you can make an electromagnet yourself with some insulated wire, a nail, and a battery:
http://www.sciencebob.com/experiments/electromagnet.php

[rolerbe]

What does 'Portable' have to do with it?