Coordinated Science for the 21st Century


Home	About Us	Technology \| Lab Equipment	Curricula	Professional Development	Contact Us	Order

Unit 1: Active Physics

Unit 2: Active Chemistry

Unit 3: Active Biology

Unit 4: EarthComm

Unit 1: Active Physics

Goals

In this activity you will:

Describe electric motor effect and generator effect in terms of energy transformations.
Use a magnetic compass to map a magnetic field.
Describe the magnetic field near a long, straight current-carrying wire.

compass

generating energy

What Do You Think?

Generators produce electricity. Motors use electricity.

What is the significance of motors and generators to your standard of living? That is, how would your life be different if you had no motors or generators?

Write your answer to these questions in your Active Physics log. Be prepared to discuss your ideas with your small group and other members of your class.

For You To Do
1. Set up the equipment as shown in the diagram, or as directed by your teacher.
2. The needle of a compass is a balanced magnet. It can be used as a magnetic field detector. If any magnet is present, the compass will respond. It usually aligns itself with Earth’s magnetic field. With no current flowing in the wire, verify that the compass always points in the same direction, north, no matter where it is placed on the horizontal surface.