National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
Magnet Academy: Hydroelectric Power Station 1882
The first hydroelectric power plant, known as the Vulcan Street Plant, was powered by the Fox River in Appleton, Wisconsin.
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
Magnet Academy: The Tesla Coil
What's behind the cool purple sparks? Neat science about resonance and transformers. Slideshow: [6:00]
University of St. Andrews (UK)
University of St. Andrews: James Clerk Maxwell
Research resources for James Maxwell (1831-1879), who did revolutionary work on electricity and magnetism and on the kinetic theory of gases.
Science Museum, London
Science Museum: Pocket Motor
Teacher directed activity shows students how flowing electrical current produces a magnetic field by building a simple motor.
Wikimedia
Wikipedia: Charles Augustin De Coulomb
Spanish-language site lets students discover the life and work of this physicist and engineer, who is known for his studies of electric charges.
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
Magnet Academy: Guitar Pickup
Keith Richards and Eric Clapton owe their fame and fortune (in part) to electromagnetic induction. (Java tutorial)
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
Magnet Academy: Audion
In 1906, American physicist Lee De Forest invented the Audion (or triode), building on John Fleming's discovery of the diode just a few years before.
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
Magnet Academy: Transformers
Use this interactive, simple transformer to make a complete circuit via induction using two separate coils with iron cores inside.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Get Your Motor Running
Students investigate motors and electromagnets as they construct their own simple electric motors using batteries, magnets, paper clips and wire.
Discovery Education
Discovery Education: Build Your Own Perpetual Motion Machine [Pdf]
A lesson for students to explore the conversion of energy from electrical energy to kinetic energy by constructing a homopolar motor. Also by constructing the motor, students can investigate magnetism, electricity, and RPM.
Exploratorium
Exploratorium: Curie Temperature
In this experiment, students experience the Curie point--and what happens when a piece of iron gets too hot to attract a magnet.
American Association of Physics Teachers
Com Padre Digital Library: Open Source Physics: E X B Trajectory Model
Simulate the motion of a charged particle in electric and magnetic fields, and then complete the equations of motion using the Lorentz force law.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Physical Science: Ferromagnetic Material
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Explores what makes a material magnetic, ferromagnetic materials and how they can be magnetised, temporary and permanent magnets, and the mineral magnetite.
Oswego City School District
Regents Exam Prep Center: Physics
A good resource offering lessons, animations, slide shows, example exams, and facts covering basic physics topics: mechanics, electricity & magnetism, energy, waves, and modern physics.
Concord Consortium
Concord Consortium: How Electrons Move
Being able to control the movement of electrons is fundamental for making all electronic devices work. Discover how electric and magnetic fields can be used to move electrons around. Begin by exploring the relationship between electric...
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
Magnet Academy: Torsion Balance
Experiment with the torsion balance and see what happens first by giving the rod a charge, and then by moving the charged rod closer to the outer metal sphere of the instrument. Observe what happens to the needle as the charge increases.
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
Magnet Academy: Apple Ii Plus 1979
Long before the iPhone, the iPod or even the Mac, there was the Apple.
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
Magnet Academy: Early Chinese Compass 400 Bc
The first compass was used not to point people in the right direction literally, but figuratively.
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
Magnet Academy: Edison Battery 1903
Although it never quite measured up to expectations, the Edison battery paved the way for the modern alkaline battery.
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
Magnet Academy: Fluorescent Lamp 1934
Compared to incandescent lamps, fluorescent lamps last longer, require less energy and produce less heat, advantages resulting from the different way in which they generate light.
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
Magnet Academy: Electrostatic Generator 1706
Otto von Guericke's electrostatic machine evolved into increasingly improved instruments in the hands of later scientists. In the early 1700s, an Englishman named Francis Hauksbee designed his own electrostatic generator, a feat stemming...
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
Magnet Academy: Electrophorus 1764
A very primitive capacitor, this early device allowed scientists to give discs of metal a specific charge.
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
Magnet Academy: Geiger Counter 1908
Counting alpha particles was tedious and time-consuming work, until Hans Geiger came up with a device that did the job automatically.
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
Magnet Academy: Leclanche Cell 1866
With only minor changes to its original 1866 design, the Leclanche cell evolved into modern alkaline batteries and the most popular household battery to date.