Curated OER
DC Motors
Twelfth graders build simple electromagnets and small motors using a motor kit in order to illustrate how magnetic fields are produced by a current carrying wire and how an external magnetic field produces a force on a current carrying...
Curated OER
Why Opposites Attract: Observing Magnetic Fields
Learners brainstorm background knowledge and any questions they may have about magnetic fields. They investigate the role that William Gilbert had in laying the groundwork for modern experimental science. Students observe magnetic fields...
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Plotting a Magnetic Field
Young scholars experiment with a set of materials. They plot the magnetic field that arises from a regular bar magnet. They discover how a magnet affects a compass.
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The Magnetic Sun
Students follow steps to build a simple version of a magnetometer, an instrument capable of detecting areas of strong magnetic field. Students use the magnetometer to investigate models of the Sun and examine images of the Sun.
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Magneto-hydrodynamic Drives
Students examine how electric and magnetic fields can be used to force water out of a chamber to move a vehicle forward.
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Magnetism in Action
Third graders experiment with magnetic force and magnetic fields. They examine how magnetic forces can act through a distance.
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Magnetic Fields and Bermuda Triangles
Students use a compass to determine the direction of a magnetic field at any point in space. They explain how two magnetic fields combine, then predict the location of areas where two fields can cancel each other to leave no resultant...
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Using "Student Power" to Generate Electricity to Run a Portable Compact Disc Player
Students conclude that magnets and magnetic fields can produce electricity. Students also understand how a small motor works and how gears work. Students describe how energy can transform along a pathway.
Curated OER
How Are Magnetic Fields Related To Sunspots?
Students discover that sunspots are the result of intense magnetic forces on the photosphere of the sun by observing images from the SOHO satellite.