PHET
The Earth as a Magnet
Everyone loves playing with magnets and iron filings. Here, young scientists first observe and then participate in an activity demonstrating magnetic fields. After completing their observations, they apply this knowledge to...
Concord Consortium
Direction of Force on Charged Objects
Make your unit on magnetism a force to be reckoned with! Physical science scholars examine the direction of force on charged objects through a simple interactive. Pupils control the charge of the stationary object, then observe how it...
Exploratorium
Magnetic Shielding
Elementary magnetologists investigate magnetic shields using a variety of materials in a "shielding sandwich." While the activity isn't novel, it is engaging, and this particular resource includes a brief explanation of the phenomena...
Concord Consortium
Concentrating Charge and Electric Fields
How did Rutherford determine that the nucleus was the center of an atom? Take a look inside the famous Gold Foil Experiment with an interesting interactive. Learners fire a beam of alpha particles at a nucleus containing variable...
Curated OER
Magnetic Turtles
Students encounter how magnetic forces affect the navigation ability of sea turtle hatchings. Research is done to find out where the true magnetic North Pole lies. Exploration is discussed on how many things here on earth are affected by...
Bowels Physics
Magnetic Fields and Forces
Every knows that opposites attract! Here's a presentation that uses this background knowledge to explain magnetic fields and forces. The resource also explains the shape of magnetic fields and how to determine the direction of forces.
Curated OER
Permeability (Magnetism)
Students investigate magnetic permeability and saturation. In this physics lesson, students explain how current carrying wire coils create magnetic forces. They interpret normal magnetization curves.
PHET
Mapping the Ambient Magnetic Field
No GPS allowed! High school scientists continue to explore magnetic fields with a hands-on activity. After mapping the ambient magnetic field in the classroom and completing data analysis, they write about the similarities and...
Curated OER
Magnetic Force
Students are introduced to the attraction and repulsion of magnetic forces. In groups, they observe how the forces react with different materials and record their data. They develop their own conclusions about the poles of magnets and...
PHET
Measuring the Interplanetary Magnetic Field
Scientists need to figure out how to measure interplanetary magnetic fields, but the magnetic field of the spacecraft is interfering with their readings. Scholars attempt to solve the problem that has perplexed NASA scientists for years.
PHET
Planetary Magnetism
What do magnetic fields look like? The best way to learn about magnetic fields is to try identifying them for yourself. Scholars will understand the importance of magnetic fields after completing this experiment. The extension activities...
Teach Engineering
The Grand Challenge
Magnetic resonance imaging, just how safe is it? The introduction to unit study of magnetic resonance imaging technology presents the grand challenge questions of how an MRI machine works, the risks involved, the physics involved, and...
Concord Consortium
Direction and Strength of Force in Electric Fields
Finally, a helpful tool for modeling electric fields! Young physicists explore the unseen world of magnetism via a simple interactive. Individuals move a charged object around a stationary object and see the strength and directions of...
Concord Consortium
Visualizing Electric Fields and Forces
Shock your class with an exciting interactive about electric fields! Physical science superstars visualize the transparent world of electric fields by changing the charge on a stationary object. They then observe changes in the resulting...
Curated OER
Typical Numeric Questions for Physics I - Magnetism
Most of these questions are actually not numeric in nature as the title indicates, but they are pertinent to a high school physics curriculum covering magnetic fields. Young scientists must be adept at handling the right hand rule in...
Curated OER
Using Magnetotactic Bacteria to Study Natural Selection
Young scholars observe bacteria that are able to orient themselves using the Earth's magnetic field.They comprehend the difference between anaerobic and aerobic organisms. Students can tell the difference of the shape of magnetic force...
Exploratorium
Motor Effect
The magnetic wire. Class members create a magnetic field by running electricity through a wire. The video included in the resource provides information on how this effect is used to make electrical motors.
Curated OER
Magnet Magic
Magnets are a source of amazement for young learners. It seems like magic the way they can attract certain things. This worksheet gives some background on which materials can be attracted to a magnet. Then, learners must circle the words...
PHET
Mapping the Field of Multiple Dipole Magnets
So you built a magnetometer, now what? High school scientists use their magnetometer made in a previous lesson to map the union of magnetic fields of dipole magnets. They experiment with different alignments and draw conclusions about...
Exploratorium
Circles of Magnetism IV
Hang a strip of foil on a stand and form a loop out of it. Then attach the clips of a battery-operated circuit to the loop to see its sides repel each other. This simple demonstration is applicable and easy to add to your lecture on...
Curated OER
Exploring Magnetic Fields
Middle schoolers explore the concept that magnets attract and repel items and exert a magnetic field that can vary in strength. They see evidence of the magnetic field of a small magnet. They see that there are forces on earth which...
Teach Engineering
Thrown for a Loop
Round and round it goes. Class members observe a current carrying loop in a magnetic field and calculate its associated torque. They then apply what they have learned to example problems to solve for the torque and to calculate the...
Mr. E. Science
Magnetism and Electromagnetism
The biggest magnet in the world is at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico and can reach 100 tesla. By comparison, magnets that lift cars are about two tesla. The 11th presentation in this series covers magnetism, focusing on...
PHET
Mapping the Field of a Dipole Magnet
High school scientists build their own magnetometer and use it to map the field surrounding a bar magnet. Excellent background resources is included, as well as a diagram of how to build the magnetometer.