Lab-Aids: Energy Transfer - Motors, Generators and Sources of Electricity Kit
Students explore the relationship between, and practical applications of, electricity and magnets. They use a battery, a magnet and a coiled wire to build a simple electric motor and then use a pre-assembled electric motor to generate electric current. In Activity 2, students read about how electricity is generated for home and commercial use. They compare the methods and equipment needed to convert energy carried by renewable and nonrenewable resources into electric current. D-cell batteries needed.
Scientific Concepts:
Magnetism and electricity are related
An electric motor uses electric current flowing through a wire coil to produce an electromagnet that interacts with another magnetic field to produce mechanical motion
An electric generator uses mechanical motion to turn a wire coil within a magnetic field to produce electric current
Content List:
1Teacher's Guide with MSDS
28Student Worksheets and Guides
12Wire leads with clips
12Bar magnets
6Coils of enameled wire
6D-cell battery holders
6Electric motors
6LED bulbs
1Transparency 1: Comparing Energy Resources
12Copper arms for motor mounts
6Motor mounts, LAB-AIDS‚®
Classroom Planning:
To complete this kit requires two to three ~50-minute class periods.