TryEngineering
All About Electric Motors
Learners study the basic principles of electric motors and explore everyday uses. They build a working model of an electric motor for classroom use, using an inexpensive kit. Then, they work as an "engineering" team to determine the...
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Simple Electric Motor
Students build simple electric motors. In this hands-on science instructional activity, students gather the listed materials and follow the provided directions to make simple electric motors.
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Building an Electric Motor
Students study different motors and how they convert electrical energy to mechanical energy. In this motor lesson students make a model of an electric motor and examine how it can be used to do work.
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Solar Kit Lesson #3 Parts of a Solar Panel - Part I
A solar cell is similar to a rechargeable battery in many ways. Science lab groups connect each in a series circuit to run a mini motor and then compare and contrast them by answering questions and completing a Venn diagram. This is an...
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Electric Motor
Strudents construct an operating electric motor while demonstrating electromagnetic principles. They use paper clips, thin wire, 1D size battery and a circular magnet to make an electric motor.
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How to Build an Electric Motor
Sixth graders build a working motor. In this lesson on motors, 6th graders use an inquiry method of learning to discover how to create a working electric motor with the supplies given to them. The teacher will guide them as needed....
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Electrical Circuits
Sixth graders make an electrical switch. In this electricity instructional activity, 6th graders will make an electrical switch, a series circuit, and a parallel circuit. They explain an open and closed circuit and give examples of ...
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Electricity and Magnetism: From Fun to Function
Fourth graders experiment with electricity and magnetism and build an electromagnetic motor. In this electromagnetism lesson, 4th graders use household objects to show electrostatics and magnets and compasses to show magnetism. They...
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Using "Student Power" to Generate Electricity to Run a Portable Compact Disc Player
Young scholars explain the relationship between magnetism and electricity. In this physics lesson, students describe the transformation of energy. They create an electromagnet and investigate the factors affecting its strength.
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Build a Simple Motor?
Young scholars experience how to construct a simple electromagnet based motor. In groups they explore what a component is and construct a circuit that can rotate the orientation of the magnet by turning the switch on and off....
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Build Your Own Simple DC Motor
Students, after brainstorming how we interact with some kind of motor every day in our lives, explore how to build their own DC motor. They collect all the parts needed for their experiment and review all safety precautions. In addition,...
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Science: Building an Electric Motor
Learners build their own electric motors and use them to conduct experiments. Following a step-by-step procedure, they make wire coils by wrapping wire around disc magnets and complete the process with clay, paper clips, alligator clips,...
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Homopolar Motor Experiments
Learners construct a homopolar motor following certain procedures. In this physics lesson, students explain how generators and motors work. They compare and contrast the characteristics of both.
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Solar Kit Lesson #1 - Solar Cell Inquiry
Give youngsters the components of a solar-powered electric circuit and turn them loose to figure out how to connect them in order for a light to shine or motor to turn. They compare energy output of a solar panel to that of a battery. On...
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Reed Switch
Students build simple electromagnetic reed switch motors. In this physics instructional activity, students explain how it works. They cite real world applications of reed switches and relays.
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Let's Light up a Light Bulb
Third graders investigate electricity. In this electricity instructional activity, 3rd graders observe a familiar battery-operated toy and brainstorm reasons why and how the battery works. Students work in pairs to explore batteries,...
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DC Motors
Twelfth graders build simple electromagnets and small motors using a motor kit in order to illustrate how magnetic fields are produced by a current carrying wire and how an external magnetic field produces a force on a current carrying...
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Exploring Magnetism and Electricity
Students explore Faraday's Law. In this electromagnetism lesson plan, students investigate Michael Faraday. Students discover the history of the electromagnet. Students examine the parts of an electromagnet.
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Using "Student Power" to Generate Electricity to Run a Portable Compact Disc Player
Students conclude that magnets and magnetic fields can produce electricity. Students also understand how a small motor works and how gears work. Students describe how energy can transform along a pathway.
Bonneville
A Simple Circuit
Heat up a lesson on solar energy by building a circuit for a cooling fan. Given a solar module and a DC motor, scholars develop hypotheses for how to make the fan turn. They test out their hypotheses, and then draw a circuit diagram to...
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Windmill activity
Students explore how to build an efficient windmill design by taking into account how the lift and drag caused by the movement of wind can be used to make the blades of the turbine move. Through their readings, hypothesis and by trail...
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Let's Light Up a Light Bulb!
Third graders investigate the concept of how electricity works in the lighting of a light bulb. They construct a circuit in order to follow the path of electricity and test how it can travel in a wire system. Then the light bulb is lit...
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Making Energy "trails"
Learners explore ten different stations that demonstrate either chemical, kinetic, or mechanical energy. They examine the way energy is transferred during each station's hands-on activity. Stations include vinegar and baking soda,...
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Solar Kit Lesson #14 - Solar Cells as Control Devices
Given four suggested concepts, emerging electrical engineers research, design, and constuct a working device that willrespond to changes in the intesnisty or the direction of sunlight. This is a challenge for learners to rise to, as the...