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Magnets and
Motors
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Students' fascination with magnets
turns into directed learning about magnetism and
electromagnets.
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SHOE Home
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Students are fascinated with magnets.
Channel this curiosity with the Magnets and Motors unit. Using a
series of hands-on experiments, students investigate the properties
of magnets and the magnetic properties of electric currents. As the
class progresses through the unit from magnetism to electricity to
electromagnetism, students experience the historical development of
our understanding of magnets.
Student activities include the
following:
- Observing and experimenting with
magnets.
- Making a compass.
- Building electromagnets and designing and
conducting experiments to test their strength.
- Constructing and operating two types of
rudimentary electric motors to illustrate one of the major
applications of electromagnetism.
- Disassembling, experimenting with, and
rebuilding a commercial electric motor to see how its components
correspond with those of the motors students
constructed.
- Producing electricity with an electric
generator to light a bulb and turn a motor.
Through these activities, students increase
their understanding of circuits and switches while also enhancing
their problem-solving and troubleshooting skills.
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