Magnet and generator question

[DaJe]

So as some of you may know from a previous thread of mine, I am designing and builidng a wind turbine in my engineering class. My original plan was to get some arc shaped neodymium magnets, and use them to create a cylinder of magnets, which the pole alternating on each one, attached to the main shaft which would rotate them past the coils. But I was thinking, I could get just one big ring shaped magnet, and I've seen motors and such that use those. I'm just not sure how it would operate though. With my original idea, I know that the alternating poles would drag the current through, but I just don't know how it would work with one ring. Any idea?

[crenn]

It will depend on how the magnetic field is setup within the ring.

[DaJe]

It would seem that one flat side would be north and the other flat side would be south. Is it possible to use this to make a generator, or should I just stick to using multple magnets to form a ring?

[crenn]

I'd say multiple small magnets would be a better idea.

[DaJe]

Sounds good to me, I figured I might as well stick with my original plan. I knwo it's proven to work. Now I just need to decide what size they shall be.

[crenn]

I'm slightly curious to how you'll be doing the motor.... you'll have to show a picture one time or a mechanical drawing!

[DaJe]

I suppose I could start a worklog for it once I actually get it going.