The Physics of Electricity and Magnetism

Activity: Electromagnetism and the Right Hand Rule

9-12 Science Std: Phys 5h, 5j

In this activity we will be:

1. Seeing the interaction between the magnetic fields of 2 permanent magnets

2. Creating a magnetic field from a current carrying wire

3. Observing the interaction between the wire’s magnetic field and the magnetic field of a permanent magnet

In this activity we will be:

4. Predicting the motion of a permanent magnet by using the Right Hand Rule for a current in a wire

5. Observing the actual motion of the magnet and comparing it to our prediction

6. Creating the current in the wire 2 different ways

So here we go Pick up the equipment you will need to do the activity from the side counter

1 compass 2 red wires with clips

1 yellow wire with clips

1 solid copper wire

1 D-Cell battery

1 hand-held generator

1 small bar magnet

A sheet of paper

Something to write with

Verify you have all of the items listed here and get out a sheet of notebook paper for your report

Start Your set up:

1. Clear off the table and set the compass in the center of the table. Allow it to settle down and observe where it says north is.

2. Take the copper wire

and a yellow wire to the other end

attach a red wire to one end

Start Your set up:

3. Attach the 2nd red wire to the end of the 1st red wire

4. Unpack and set aside the hand-held generator for later.

Note: you are doing this just to make the red wire longer….

It doesn’t look exactly like this, but you get the idea.

Activity Part #1

Testing the compass with the magnet

1. Take the magnet and hold it close to the compass

NS

•Move the magnet around the compass and look at the needle on the compass

•Question 1: (a) Does the magnet make the needle of the compass move? (b) If it does, why does it make it move?

Activity Part #2

Testing the compass with a current carrying wire

1. Place the copper wire over the top of the magnet

•Make sure the red and yellow wires are clipped to the ends of the wire

•Put the wire over the compass so that the center of the wire is over the center of the compass

Activity Part #2Testing the compass with a current carrying wire

2. Touch the end of the red wire to the (+) end of the battery

•The + end is the one with the knob on it (if you didn’t know)

Activity Part #2Testing the compass with a current carrying wire

3. Touch the end of the yellow wire to the (–) end of the battery.

•That is the flat end of the battery

•Question 2: Which way do you think the needle will move? Write down your prediction. Be specific.

Activity Part #2

Testing the compass with a current carrying wire

4. Look at the compass needle

•Did the needle move?

•If it did move, which way did it move?

•Remember which way the wires are hooked up and which way the needle is pointing

Activity Part #3

Changing the direction of the current in the wire

5. Stop touching the battery with the red and yellow wires

•Did the needle move?

•If it did move, which way did it move?

•Remember which way the wires are hooked up and which way the needle is pointing

Activity Part #3

Changing the direction of the current in the wire

6. Turn the battery around

7. Touch the red wire to the (-) end of the battery

8. Touch the yellow wire to the (+) end of the battery

Activity Part #3

Changing the direction of the current in the wire

9. Did the compass needle move?•If it moved, which way did it move?

•Remember which way the wires are hooked up and which way the needle is pointing

Activity Part #4

Other power source trials

10. Try different combinations of batteries and the hand-held generator to see how different quantities of current make the needle move

•Try using 2 batteries back-to-back. Does the needle move more or less than before?

Question 3: (a) Can you get more needle movement with a battery or the generator? (b) Why does one make it move more?

Activity Part #5Question and Answer Report

4. Using the right-hand rule, draw a picture showing the compass needle, the wire, the direction of the current in the wire and the magnetic field for each of the tests done with the battery.

5. If you increase the current in the wire, does the compass needle move more or less? Why?

Answer the following questions:

6. During the lecture, I told you about one machine that uses an electromagnet to do its job. Give me one other (different) machine that uses an electromagnet.

Don’t forget to put your names on

your report

Activity Part #6Clean-Up

In the last 5 minutes of class:

Put all of your materials back in the bags and put them back on the side counter

Clean up your table work area

Turn in your report for this activity

Don’t forget to put your team member’s names and the period # at the top of the sheet.