Learn about cause and effect relationships of electric or magnetic interactions between two objects not in contact with each other.

Alessandro Volta invents the first primitive battery, discovering that electricity can be generated through chemical processes; scientists quickly seize on the new tool to invent electric lighting. Meanwhile, a profound insight into the...

A collection of video lectures from a fundamentals of physics course taught at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The course is the second in the sequence and focuses on electricity and magnetism The videos feature topics on...

Scientists take important steps toward a fuller understanding of electricity, as well as some fruitful missteps, including an elaborate but incorrect theory on animal magnetism that sets the stage for a groundbreaking invention.

The telephone and first practical incandescent light bulb are invented while the word "electron" enters the scientific lexicon.

Computers evolve into PCs, researchers discover one new subatomic particle after another and the space age gives our psyches and science a new context.

Defense-related research leads to the computer, the world enters the atomic age and TV conquers America.

Find out how humans discovered the magnetic lodestone as well as the attracting properties of amber. Advanced societies, in particular the Chinese and the Europeans, exploited the properties of magnets in compasses, a tool that makes...

Scientists' understanding of the structure of the atom and of its component particles grows, the phone and radio become common, and the modern television is born.

See how electricity and magnetism interact with this activity. Activity has students creating a current by swinging a copper coil through a magnetic field. The copper coil will start a second coil swinging as well.

Spurred by Hans Christian Orsted's discovery of a relationship between electricity and magnetism, German chemist Julian Schweigger immediately began tinkering and soon came up with a very early galvanometer known as the Schweigger...

In this lesson, students learn how to identify and explain an electromagnet, describe the relationship between electricity and magnetism, and compare an electromagnet to a bar magnet.

This set of activities has middle schoolers using everyday items (batteries, magnets, compasses, iron and paper clips) to reveal the connection between electricity and magnetism. Ideally, students will already have experience building...

William Gilbert was an English physician and natural philosopher who wrote a six-volume treatise that compiled all of the information regarding magnetism and electricity known at the time. The work included descriptions of many of...

At the turn of the 19th century, scientists were beginning to gain a rudimentary understanding of electricity and magnetism, but they knew almost nothing about the relationship between the two. Baltic German physicist Heinrich Lenz took...

The history of electricity and magnetism starts with this special mineral possessing amazing, and still mysterious, properties.

If you put on clothes that were washed in a washing machine, rode in a car, ate food from a fridge, warmed up lunch in a microwave, or played a video game, you used an electric motor. Try this science fair project and you'll learn how to...

An experiment to find out how an old-style doorbell works.

Two scientists share the credit for discovering, and then interpreting, the phenomenon of electromagnetism.

This site explores the history of power lines and cancer associations, as well as dispelling the myth. The science is explored by citing known facts, studies and experts in the field.

Research resources for James Maxwell (1831-1879), who did revolutionary work on electricity and magnetism and on the kinetic theory of gases.

From the Stone Age to today, the search is constantly underway for better, more efficient ways to cook food. Reflecting many of the advances in science and technology, the electric range has become a popular choice for homes and businesses.

Keith Richards and Eric Clapton owe their fame and fortune (in part) to electromagnetic induction. (Java tutorial)

This is a Java tutorial showing the simple voltaic (or galvanic) electrical cell, which is the most basic type of "wet" cell and demonstrates the fundamental chemistry behind batteries.