Ever wonder how a compass worked to point you to the Arctic? …
Ever wonder how a compass worked to point you to the Arctic? Explore the interactions between a compass and bar magnet, and then add the earth and find the surprising answer! Vary the magnet's strength, and see how things change both inside and outside. Use the field meter to measure how the magnetic field changes.
This lesson introduces students to the effects of magnetic fields in matter …
This lesson introduces students to the effects of magnetic fields in matter addressing permanent magnets, diamagnetism, paramagnetism, ferromagnetism, and magnetization. First students must compare the magnetic field of a solenoid to the magnetic field of a permanent magnet. Students then learn the response of diamagnetic, paramagnetic, and ferromagnetic material to a magnetic field. Now aware of the mechanism causing a solid to respond to a field, students learn how to measure the response by looking at the net magnetic moment per unit volume of the material.
Students measure the relative intensity of a magnetic field as a function …
Students measure the relative intensity of a magnetic field as a function of distance. They place a permanent magnet selected distances from a compass, measure the deflection, and use the gathered data to compute the relative magnetic field strength. Based on their findings, students create mathematical models and use the models to calculate the field strength at the edge of the magnet. They use the periodic table to predict magnetism. Finally, students create posters to communicate the details their findings. This activity guides students to think more deeply about magnetism and the modeling of fields while practicing data collection and analysis. An equations handout and two grading rubrics are provided.
In this fun, engaging activity, students are introduced to a unique type …
In this fun, engaging activity, students are introduced to a unique type of fluid ferrofluids whose shape can be influenced by magnetic fields! Students act as materials engineers and create their own ferrofluids. They are challenged to make magnetic ink out of ferrofluids and test their creations to see if they work. Concurrently, they learn more about magnetism, surfactants and nanotechnology. As they observe fluid properties as a standalone-fluid and under an imposed magnetic field, they come to understand the components of ferrofluids and their functionality.
Students begin working on the grand challenge of the unit by thinking …
Students begin working on the grand challenge of the unit by thinking about the nature of metals and quick, cost-effective means of separating different metals, especially steel. They arrive at the idea, with the help of input from relevant sources, to use magnets, but first they must determine if the magnets can indeed isolate only the steel.
Students learn about magnets and how they are formed. They investigate the …
Students learn about magnets and how they are formed. They investigate the properties of magnets and how engineers use magnets in technology. Specifically, students learn about magnetic memory storage, which is the reading and writing of data information using magnets, such as in computer hard drives, zip disks and flash drives.
This lesson ties the preceding lessons together and brings students back to …
This lesson ties the preceding lessons together and brings students back to the grand challenge question on MRI safety. During this lesson, students focus on the logistics of magnetic resonance imaging as well as the MRI hardware. Students can then integrate this knowledge with their acquired knowledge on magnetic fields to solve the challenge question.
Students explore the basic magnetic properties of different substances, particularly aluminum and …
Students explore the basic magnetic properties of different substances, particularly aluminum and steel. There is a common misconception that magnets attract all metals, largely due to the ubiquity of steel in metal products. The activity provides students the chance to predict, whether or not a magnet will attract specific items and then test their predictions. Ultimately, students should arrive at the conclusion that iron (and nickel if available) is the only magnetic metal.
After the unit on Electricity and Magnetism, students are given the opportunity …
After the unit on Electricity and Magnetism, students are given the opportunity to experience practical applications of the concept as they construct their own headphones and listen to music from their I-pods.
This cooperative classroom activity will allow students to apply their knowledge of …
This cooperative classroom activity will allow students to apply their knowledge of magnetism and electricity. The students will create a circuit that lights a flashlight bulb and simultaneously practice the skills of prediction, observation, inferrence, recording, investigation and communication.
Explore the interactions between a compass and bar magnet. Discover how you …
Explore the interactions between a compass and bar magnet. Discover how you can use a battery and wire to make a magnet! Can you make it a stronger magnet? Can you make the magnetic field reverse?
In this activity, students use their own creativity (and their bodies) to …
In this activity, students use their own creativity (and their bodies) to make longitudinal and transverse waves. Through the use of common items, they will investigate the different between longitudinal and transverse waves.
In this lab students will make string out of sodium alginate, an …
In this lab students will make string out of sodium alginate, an algael polymer, and see what you can craft out of it in this simple chemistry activity. They will discover how strong yet pliable algae in the ocean is because of the strong waves in the ocean. Students can color their string and let it dry before turning it into a cool project.
Students determine the refractive index of a liquid with a simple technique …
Students determine the refractive index of a liquid with a simple technique using a semi-circular hollow block. Then they predict the refractive index of a material (a Pyrex glass tube) by matching it with the known refractive index of a liquid using the percent light transmission measurement. The homemade light intensity detector uses an LED and multimeter, which are relatively inexpensive (and readily available) compared to commercially available measurement instruments.
Students learn about the difference between temperature and thermal energy. They build …
Students learn about the difference between temperature and thermal energy. They build a thermometer using simple materials and develop their own scale for measuring temperature. They compare their thermometer to a commercial thermometer, and get a sense for why engineers need to understand the properties of thermal energy.
Rubber band-powered cars can be made from a variety of materials, but …
Rubber band-powered cars can be made from a variety of materials, but they all have one thing in common. A rubber band is wound around an axle, a cylindrical rod that passes through the centers of the wheels. As you twist the axle and tighten the rubber band, it stretches and stores elastic potential energy. When you release the axle, the rubber band contracts, and this potential energy is converted to kinetic energy, the energy of motion, and the wheels will spin. Depending on the amount of friction with the ground, the wheels might propel the car forward, or they might just spin in place! The frictional force between the wheels and the ground depends on both the weight of the car and the coefficient of friction, which depends on the materials the wheels and ground are made of. That is a lot of physics in one little device!
This activity is a guided discovery where students make chemical mixtures using …
This activity is a guided discovery where students make chemical mixtures using sodium, learn about the Periodic Table, view salt under a microscope, and have a final result of bath salts for the bathtub
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