Getting into electromagnetism

[bobmanu]

Programmer-turned-amateur-physicist here.
I'm reading Feynman's lectures, but I'm urged to do some physical experiments. The thing is, I have no idea about the practical side of things. Could someone write me a detailed description of some experiment? Say, the one with the hanging wire and the coil, where the coil's magnetic field pushes the wire. Do I need to take any safety measures besides "don't be a part of the circuit"? Can I just make a coil from a piece of wire and will it work? etc. One sample experiment so I can get into it.

 

[Bob S]

Here is a case of the current in a wire pushing a magnet. The Faraday motor was discovered by Faraday circa 1830. Look up "Faraday motor site:youtube.com"

See

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOdboRYf1hM&NR=1

and



Bob S

[added]Also see simple motors at (google)

"simple motor site:youtube.com"