How do you make a motor spin the other way?

Flip which way electricity flows and the motor spins backwards. A motor spins one way when electricity flows one way, and the other way when it flows backwards. The direction switch swaps the two wires over — forwards, stop, reverse!

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Complete MightyCog booklet collection: 82 PDF booklets for $12.99. Instructions only; individual booklets remain free.

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Try it yourself

Flip the switch one way, then the other. Does your buggy drive backwards?

Build it: 7 builds that teach switching direction

🔋 Motor Buggy: Your first car that drives by itself — with a forwards/backwards switch and headlights! (level 3 of 5, about 30 minutes, 20 steps)
📡 Spinning Radar: A motor-driven radar dish that sweeps round and round on a turntable — with a blinking light. (level 3 of 5, about 25 minutes, 15 steps)
🪢 Belt-Drive Buggy: No gears touching: a loop carries the power from the motor down to the wheels. (level 3 of 5, about 35 minutes, 11 steps)
🎛️ One Motor, Knob Steering: The motor drives, YOU steer — turn the knob as you walk beside it. (level 3 of 5, about 40 minutes, 21 steps)
🦾 XL Power Crane: The strongest motor plus a worm gear: 24 times slower and super strong. (level 4 of 5, about 35 minutes, 27 steps)
🔄 Reverse-to-Turn Car: Only one motor — but it can still turn! Drive backwards and the wheels swing round. (level 4 of 5, about 50 minutes, 24 steps)
🤖 Robot Arm with Servo Claw: Swing, lift and grab! Three motors and a remote turn you into a factory robot operator. (level 4 of 5, about 60 minutes, 30 steps)

In the classroom

I8 Motors & Circuits (Inventors, Intermediate)

Common engineering questions

How can I try switching direction at home?