Activity
Museum of Science

Museum of Science and Industry: Online Science: Build an Electric Motor

For Students 3rd - 8th
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...
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Investigating Magnetism

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
For this physical science lab, students will investigate ways to control an electromagnet, how adding coils of wire can change the magnet, and the differences between an electromagnet and a bar magnet. Students will explain in their...
Website
Creative Science Centre

Creative Science Centre: Notes on Coil Magnet Orientation and Rotation

For Students 9th - 10th
An electrical generator is in essence a very simple device - magnets rotating within a coil of wire. To get a generator to work properly, one needs to make sure the coil and magnet orientation and rotation are correctly aligned. These...
Handout
Wikimedia

Wikipedia: Electromagnet

For Students 9th - 10th
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.
Website
Creative Science Centre

Creative Science Centre: 6 Generators

For Students 9th - 10th
Apart from the piezo generator, all of these generators are based on the same simple design, where magnets are rotated near to coils of wire (Faraday Induction). There is no coil switching so these are AC generators. On magnet movement,...
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Electromagnetic Induction Demonstration

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students learn the relationship between the electric and magnetic fields. Specifically, they verify that a magnetic field is created in a current carrying coil of wire and a changing magnetic field can induce a current in another coil of...