Electrical current can will give rise to magnetism. And changing magnetic fields can give rise to voltages. This is the basis of an enormous variety of electrical devices.

Main pages in this section Estimated time required Link to activities in teacher manual Currents and magnets 30 minutes - Making an electromagnet 30 minutes - Making a motor 30 minutes - Inducing a voltage 30 minutes - Science content: about electromagnetism 30 minutes   Discussion of electromagnetism 30 minutes   Why study electromagnetism?

A transformer is an electromagetic device.

Materials needed for this section

• copper wire *
• a small piece of sandpaper *
• batteries and battery holders *
• compass *
• wires with clip ends *
• magnet *
• a large nail *
• plastic straw *
• bipolar light emitting diode (that is different colors when the current goes different ways) *
• tape (you provide)
• paper clips (you provide)
• a black marking pen (you provide)

Next section:Summary