Three Ways to Generate Electricity

Picture of a black framed shadow box with white paper inside the frame.  On the paper are metal shavings that are dispersed in two circular patterns reflecting the electromagnetic field being generated by an unseen device.
Learning Goals

Learning Goals:

  1. Detect the relative strength of magnetic fields at different distances from a magnet.
  2. Explain the energy transformations occurring in each part of a circuit.
  3. Identify three different methods for generating electricity.
Materials List

Handouts

Classroom Supplies (per groups of 4)

  • 20mL Iron filings (example)
  • 2 wires with alligator clips
  • Multimeter
  • Computer with internet access
  • Compass (recommended or recommended)
  • Ruler
  • Roll of masking/painter’s tape
  • 3 Bar magnets
  • Plastic box frame (example)
  • Various other magnets (e.g. refrigerator magnets – weak magnets work best)
  • Small electric motor with plastic sleeve or wheel attachment
  • Small electric motor with metal cover/housing removed
  • “Grain of Wheat” bulb
  • Clamp light with 100 W halogen bulb
  • Small photovoltaic cell (between 1.5 V and 3V)
  • Protractor
  • Batteries (1 each): D cell, AA, AAA

Important Links

Next Generation Science Standards

Next Generation Science Standards

MS-PS2-3

  • Ask questions about data to determine the factors that affect the strength of electric and magnetic forces.

MS-PS2-5

  • Conduct an investigation and evaluate the experimental design to provide evidence that fields exist between objects exerting forces on each other even though the objects are not in contact.

Lesson 4 of 6 / Time: Two to Three 40-45 min periods

This lesson gives students hands-on experiences with the attraction and repulsion of magnets including experiments with how the strength of attraction and repulsion varies with distance. Students see how magnets are used in motors but also in electric generators. Finally, students learn three different methods for generating electricity (chemical/battery, magnets/turbine, and photovoltaic cells). Warning: Part 2 “magnets and distance” is very finicky and can be difficult to get good results. Try it yourself until you feel confident or this lesson will probably not go well.

Solar vs Wind Energy Unit

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