PHSC 111 - Introduction to Physical Science

Virtual Magnets

The purpose of this investigation is to use a PhET simulation to explore the link between magnetism and electricity.

Click on the following link: https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/cheerpj/faraday/latest/faraday.html?simulation=generator.

(Note: This simulation is unlikely to run on mobile devices.)

Notice the various tabs in the upper left. You will be working with: Pickup Coil, Electromagnet,and Generator.

Pickup Coil

A coil of wire is attached to a lightbulb. The blue dots represent charges in the wire.

1. Before you do anything, is there current in the wire? How do you know?
2. Move the magnet through the coil. What happens?
3. Place the magnet in the coil. Is there current in the wire? Does the light bulb light up?
4. Move the magnet back and forth through the coil, first slowly and then quickly. What do you observe with the light bulb
5. Change the indicator to the voltmeter and repeat step (4) above. What do you observe in the voltage meter?
6. Fill in the blank: "A moving magnet (changing magnetic field) generates a __________."
7. Summarize what you have learned in this simulation:
8. What did you have to do to generate a current?
9. What did you have to do to maximize that current?
10. The direction of the current depends on what?

Electromagnet

A coil of wire is attached to a battery (DC). Ensure that the boxes next to Show Field and Show Compass are checked.

1. Is there a magnetic field associated with the current? Is the magnetic field changing?
2. Now click on the AC current source. What do you observe about the current, compass, and magnetic field?
3. The current is:
4. The compass:
5. The magnetic field is:
6. What does "AC" and "DC" mean? (And, we are not talking about the rock group!)
7. Fill in the blank: "A moving charge (current) generates a _______________."

Generator

A magnet is attached to a large wheel. Nearby is a coil attached to a lightbulb (or voltmeter). Turn on the water by dragging the slider on the faucet.

This simulation models the fundamentals of a simple electric power plant. Record your observations of each part of this "power plant" under the following conditions: no water, small water stream, and large water stream.

Size of water stream	Magnet Observations	Compass Observations	Current Observations	Lightbulb/Voltmeter Observations
No water
Small water stream
Large water stream

1. Is this simulation an example of AC or DC? What is your evidence?