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Riding the Radio Waves
Learners examine the basic concepts of radio waves and magnetic fields. They study how the AM radios are built and demonstrate the concepts of amplitude and frequency.
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Making A Compass
This interesting science instructional activity is about the compass. Students make a compass out of a magnet, sewing needle, cork, and a glass dish. The instructional activity includes both a pre and post-test for the students to take,...
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Electrostatics
Learners examine ways positive and negative charges are attracted and repelled by watching teacher demonstrations, and complete activity sheet related to classroom demonstration activities to prove proficiency of knowledge of...
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Let There Be Light
Fifth graders explore electricity. For this electricity lesson, 5th graders experiment with open and closed circuits. Students determine how to properly connect a battery and bulb to illuminate the bulb.
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What is An Electromagnet?
Students explore and define electromagnets. In this electromagnet lesson, students access an assigned web site to research what an electromagnet is and how it works. They complete a database with information from the web site and...
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Motion and Forces
Eighth graders define the terms: magnetism, poles, compass, magnetic field, lines of force, electromagnet. They name two properties shared by all magnets and describe how one magnet will affect another.
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Electromagnets: Winding Things Up!
Students explore solenoids and electromagnets. After building an electromagnet, students use a TI Graphing calculator, a CBL 2 interface and a magnetic field sensor to measure the strength of a magnetic field. They create a graph of...
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A Simple Motor
Instructions for building a simple electromagnetic motor are provided for the teacher. Aside from some sketchy background information and a list of content standards to be met, that is about all you will find in this resource. The motor...
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Fun with Electromagnets
Junior scientists work in groups to construct electromagnets. They experiment by varying number of wraps around the nail, the diameter of the nail, and the type of metal the nail is made of to see if any of these factors has an effect on...
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Reed Switch
Students build simple electromagnetic reed switch motors. For this physics lesson, students explain how it works. They cite real world applications of reed switches and relays.
LABScI
Circuits Lab: Lightbulbs
Electrons flow from negative to positive, but the general consensus is that current flows from positive to negative. Scholars explore current through construction of circuits in both series and parallel. The focus is on voltage,...
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Orienteering - The Fundamentals
Students investigate the concept of a compass and it has been used in the past and in modern times. They practice using it in the wilderness in order to test its importance in various exploring activities. Each activity is accompanied by...
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The Invention of Faraday Cage
Students demonstrate how Faraday's cage work by building their own electroscope. In this physics lesson, students explain how Faraday's cage work. They cite several applications of this principle in the real world.
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Jupiter's "Monstrous" Magnetosphere
Young scholars explore Jupiter's magnetosphere. In this Jupiter lesson, students examine a diagram of the magnetic field that surrounds Jupiter.
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Patterns, Functions, and Algebra: Wired for Space
Students assess how patterns, functions and algebra can assist NASA engineers design new ways of propelling spacecrafts. They explore how electricity and magnetism are replacing the fuel-consuming rocket propulsion. Electromagnetism is...
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WAVES AND PHOTONS
Learners examine the many types of electromagnetic waves, the concept of an EM wave, how James Clerk Maxwell proposed a slight modification of the equations of electricity, Heinrich Hertz and his radio-frequency, wavelengths, and light...
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Induction: Inquiry in Action
Students investigate the factors that affect the induced current in a loop of wire. They discuss Faraday's Law and Lenz's Law. Students identify the different variables that affect the magnetic flux and calculate the magnetic flux...
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Transformers
Students examine how a transformer works and its practical applications. In this electricity activity students complete several experiments using transformers and generators.
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Effects of the Sun on Our Planet (Grades 9-12)
Students examine the Earth's magnetosphere and observe the effects of the sun's energy on it. They discover the difference between true north and magnetic north. They also explore how solar cells convert solar energy to electricity.
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Build a Simple Ammeter
Students build and work with a simple ammeter to test theories on why solar cells connected in parallel produce more current that in series. Students use the ammeter to indicate the presence, direction, and strength of an electric...
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Construction of an Ammeter and a Voltmeter from a Galvanometer
Students explore series and parallel circuits. In this physics lesson, students construct a simple circuit and measure its maximum current. They construct their own voltmeter and ammeter that operates at a specified range.
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Making an Electromagnet
Young scholars explore electromagnetic forces. In this electromagnetic activity, students construct a working electromagnet and conduct a series of experiments to see what increases the strength of an electromagnet.
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Coulomb's Law
Students solve problems involving electric charges and force. In this physics instructional activity, student solve word problems using addition and subtraction of vectors. They identify the direction represented by a vector as it...