Development and Class Practice of an Educational Linear Motor System for Junior High School Technology Education

In this study, a linear-motor educational system has been developed for the learning of "C. Energy Conversion Technology," a content area in junior high school technology education in Japan. The motor of the system is composed of six coils equipped with half-bridge circuits on both ends. These circuits are connected to a personal computer so that students can change the magnetic poles of each coil by a simple mouse operation, with trial and error. The result of a class practice shows that students can recognize the important role that motors including rotary ones play in our daily lives, and can become more interested in the mechanism of motors, suggesting that the linear-motor educational system developed in this study is effective in increasing students’ interest in motors.