Physical Sciences K-8: Electromagnetism and Electromagnets

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Electromagnetism and Electromagnets

This topic is broken into units to help in formulating cohesive, effective lessons. Clicking on each unit title below will display appropriate activities, lesson plans, or labs.

Unit materials are a subset of all possible materials available for this topic, selected especially with the new physics teacher in mind. You may instead browse all materials for this topic here.

Physical Sciences K-8 Electromagnetism and Electromagnets Units

An electromagnet works on the principle that an electric current not only allows electrons to flow in a circuit, but also generates a small magnetic field. When a wire carrying electricity is coiled, the magnetic field becomes even stronger. Iron or steel objects surrounded by this coiled electric wire also become magnetized. This combination of electronic energy, coiled wiring and conductive metal object forms the basis of an electromagnet.

Electromagnetic Induction (1)

Student Tutorials:

Molecular Expressions: Electricity and Magnetism - Generators and Motors

This tutorial gives beginning students a grounding in the physics underlying generators and motors. Clear and concise illustrations help students differentiate the components of each device. The author devotes careful attention to conductor coils and how they are used to cut through lines of force and strengthen a magnetic field. Simple graphs depict the cycles of both AC and DC current waves. (Open Website)

Electromagnetic Radiation and the Spectrum (1)

Activities:

Teachers' Domain: The Electromagnetic Spectrum: NASA

This three-minute NASA video introduces the seven categories of the electromagnetic spectrum in a way that is understandable for middle and high school students. Requires Quicktime plug-in to operate. (Open Website)