Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Do Large Mammals Align Themselves With Earth's Magnetic Field?
In this science fair project, use Google Earth to determine if large mammals align themselves in respect to the earth's magnetic field. The Science Buddies project ideas are set up consistently beginning with an abstract, objective, and...
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Abracadabra! Levitating With Eddy Currents!
Did you know that not all trains run on tracks? Some of the world's fastest trains are magnetic levitation trains (maglev). This means that the carriage of the train is suspended over the rails with no support, but only with magnetic...
American Association of Physics Teachers
Com Padre Digital Library: Open Source Physics: Magnetic Bar Field Model
A bar magnet model built by placing a group of magnetic dipoles along the magnet. This simulation shows the magnetic field of a bar magnet, and has a movable compass which shows the magnetic field values.
University of Colorado
University of Colorado: Ph Et Interactive Simulations: Magnet and Compass
Ever wonder how a compass worked to point you to the Arctic? Explore the interactions between a compass and bar magnet, and then add the earth and find the surprising answer.
University of Colorado
University of Colorado: Ph Et Interactive Simulations: Magnets and Electromagnets
Explore the interactions between a compass and bar magnet. Discover how to use a battery and wire to make a magnet.
University of Colorado
University of Colorado: Ph Et Interactive Simulations: Faraday's Law
An interactive simulation that teaches about Faraday's Law, magnets, and magnetic fields by showing how a change in the magnetic flux can produce a flow of electricity. This simulation can either be downloaded or played online and...
PBS
Pbs: Magnetic Storm
The purpose, life, and hazards of the Earth's magnetic field are discussed as they relate to magnetic storms. This includes their impact on animals, auroras, and even compasses. Interactive features are also included in this...
Museum of Science
Museum of Science and Industry: Online Science: Build an Electric Motor
Step-by-step illustrated instructions show how to build a simple electric motor using everyday materials to make a wire coil spin. An explanation of the science involved is given at the end, as well as tips on troubleshooting any...
Canada Science and Technology Museum
Canada Science and Technology Museum: Background Information for Electricity
The Canada Science and Technology Museum answers some of the most common questions about electricity. For example, get the definition of electricity, the difference between alternating and direct currents, and learn how a fuse works.
University of Colorado
University of Colorado: Ph Et Interactive Simulations: Faraday's Law
Investigate Faraday's law and how a changing magnetic flux can produce a flow of electricity!
Georgia Department of Education
Ga Virtual Learning: Magnetism
In this interactive unit students will see how magnets work and how they are used in some of the most useful and common devices today.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Drawing Magnetic Fields
Students use a compass and a permanent magnet to trace the magnetic field lines produced by the magnet. By positioning the compass in enough spots around the magnet, the overall magnet field will be evident from the collection of arrows...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Circuits and Magnetic Fields
In this activity, students use the same method as in the activity from lesson 2 to explore the magnetism due to electric current instead of a permanent magnet. Students use a compass and circuit to trace the magnetic field lines induced...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Visualizing Magnetic Field Lines
In this activity, students take the age old concept of etch-a-sketch a step further. Using iron filings, students begin visualizing magnetic field lines. To do so, students use a compass to read the direction of the magnet's magnetic...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Force on a Current Carrying Wire
Students use a simple set up consisting of a current carrying wire and a magnet to explore the forces which enable biomedical imaging. In doing so, students run a current through a wire and then hold magnets in various positions to...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Induced Emf in a Coil of Wire
Students use a simple set up consisting of a coil of wire and a magnet to visualize induced EMF. First, students move a coil of wire near a magnet and observe the voltage that results. They then experiment with moving the wire, magnet,...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Magnetic Launcher
Students explore electromagnetism and engineering concepts using optimization techniques to design an efficient magnetic launcher. Groups start by algebraically solving the equations of motion for the velocity at the time when a...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Clean Up This Mess
Students are challenged to design a method for separating steel from aluminum based on magnetic properties as is frequently done in recycling operations. To complicate the challenge, the magnet used to separate the steel must be able to...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Magnetic Fields
Students visualize the magnetic field of a strong permanent magnet using a compass. The lesson begins with an analogy to the effect of the Earth's magnetic field on a compass. Students see the connection that the compass simply responds...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Electricity and Magnetic Fields
The grand challenge for this legacy cycle unit is for students to design a way to help a recycler separate aluminum from steel scrap metal. In previous lessons, they have looked at how magnetism might be utilized. In this instructional...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Electromagnets
In this activity, the learners will complete the grand challenge and design an electromagnet to separate steel from aluminum for the recycler. In order to do this, students compare the induced magnetic field of an electric current with...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Both Fields at Once?!
This lesson discusses the result of a charge being subject to both electric and magnetic fields at the same time. It covers the Hall effect, velocity selector, and the charge to mass ratio. Given several sample problems, students learn...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Biot Savart Law
This lesson begins with a demonstration prompting students to consider how current generates a magnetic field and the direction of the field that is generated. Through formal lecture, students learn Biot-Savart's law in order to...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Solenoids
This lesson plan discusses solenoids. Young scholars learn how to calculate the magnetic field along the axis of a solenoid and complete an activity exploring the magnetic field of a metal slinky. Solenoids form the basis for the magnet...