National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
Magnet Academy: Timeline of Electricity and Magnetism: 1870 1879
The telephone and first practical incandescent light bulb are invented while the word "electron" enters the scientific lexicon.
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
Magnet Academy: Timeline of Electricity and Magnetism: 1850 1869
The Industrial Revolution is in full force, Gramme invents his dynamo and James Clerk Maxwell formulates his series of equations on electrodynamics.
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
Magnet Academy: Timeline of Electricity and Magnetism: 1840 1849
The legendary Faraday forges on with his prolific research and the telegraph reaches a milestone when a message is sent between Washington, DC, and Baltimore, MD.
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
Magnet Academy: Timeline of Electricity and Magnetism: 1940 1959
Defense-related research leads to the computer, the world enters the atomic age and TV conquers America.
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
Magnet Academy: Timeline of Electricity and Magnetism: 1930 1939
New tools such as special microscopes and the cyclotron take research to higher levels, while average citizens enjoy novel amenities such as the FM radio.
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
Magnet Academy: Timeline of Electricity and Magnetism: 1910 1929
Scientists' understanding of the structure of the atom and of its component particles grows, the phone and radio become common, and the modern television is born.
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
Magnet Academy: Timeline of Electricity and Magnetism: 1890 1899
Scientists discover and probe x-rays and radioactivity, while inventors compete to build the first radio.
Read Works
Read Works: Electric and Magnetic Forces and the Modern Day Compass
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about how a compass works using electromagnetic force. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Wikimedia
Wikipedia: Electromagnet
Easy-to-read information and an illustration of an "electromagnet," a type of magnet in which the magnetic field is induced by the flow of an electric current.
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
Magnet Academy: Magneto 1832
The magneto helped fire up the first generation of automobiles.
Exploratorium
Exploratorium: Science Snacks: Motor Effect
"A magnet exerts a force on current-carrying wire." This simple device shows how magnets affect wires with current in them, the basis of the electric motor. If you see, feel and understand this, the electric motor becomes very clear.
Concord Consortium
Concord Consortium: Stem Resources: How Electrons Move
A collection of interactive activities and games to explore how electric fields and magnetic fields move electrons and charged particles in directions that can be planned. Understand that knowing how to control the movement of electrons...
American Association of Physics Teachers
Com Padre Digital Library: Open Source Physics: Charge Trajectories
Investigate a the forces exerted on a charged particle by electric and magnetic fields. Initially, find out how the charge behaves in an electric field. Then, see how the charge behaves in a magnetic field. Finally, initiate both fields...
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
Magnet Academy: Kettle 1891
Found in more homes than any other appliance, the kettle has steadily evolved from an ancient tool to an important modern convenience.
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
Magnet Academy: Hydroelectric Power Station 1882
The first hydroelectric power plant, known as the Vulcan Street Plant, was powered by the Fox River in Appleton, Wisconsin.
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
Magnet Academy: The Tesla Coil
What's behind the cool purple sparks? Neat science about resonance and transformers. Slideshow: [6:00]
University of St. Andrews (UK)
University of St. Andrews: James Clerk Maxwell
Research resources for James Maxwell (1831-1879), who did revolutionary work on electricity and magnetism and on the kinetic theory of gases.
Science Museum, London
Science Museum: Pocket Motor
Teacher directed activity shows students how flowing electrical current produces a magnetic field by building a simple motor.
Wikimedia
Wikipedia: Charles Augustin De Coulomb
Spanish-language site lets students discover the life and work of this physicist and engineer, who is known for his studies of electric charges.
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
Magnet Academy: Guitar Pickup
Keith Richards and Eric Clapton owe their fame and fortune (in part) to electromagnetic induction. (Java tutorial)
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
Magnet Academy: Audion
In 1906, American physicist Lee De Forest invented the Audion (or triode), building on John Fleming's discovery of the diode just a few years before.
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
Magnet Academy: Transformers
Use this interactive, simple transformer to make a complete circuit via induction using two separate coils with iron cores inside.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Get Your Motor Running
Students investigate motors and electromagnets as they construct their own simple electric motors using batteries, magnets, paper clips and wire.
Discovery Education
Discovery Education: Build Your Own Perpetual Motion Machine [Pdf]
A lesson plan for students to explore the conversion of energy from electrical energy to kinetic energy by constructing a homopolar motor. Also by constructing the motor, students can investigate magnetism, electricity, and RPM.