Electrical to Mechanical Energy
Learn more about electrical current and its effect on circuits, magnets, electromagnets, and motors. Physics topics and the work of Michael Faraday are discussed. Included are formulas, diagrams, animations, videos, games, puzzles, and interactive lessons that can be used on the SmartBoard. Also included is an eTheme on Electricity: Circuits, Conductors, and Batteries.
On this site four lessons can be used for students to learn more about electric potential, an electric current, electrical resistance, and circuit connections.
The Energy Story: Circuits
Learn about electrical current and how circuits work. Follow the instructions to conduct your own circuit experiment. Additional links, games, and puzzles are found by clicking on icons on the left side of the page.
Magnets, Electromagnets, and Motors
Learn more about how magnets, electromagnets, and motors work and how they are related. While aimed at high school students, this information can be easily modified for middle school students.
Michael Faraday & The Electric Transformer
Read how Michael Faraday performed an experiment using a battery to help conduct electricity.
Michael Faraday & The Electrical Generator
Learn more about Michael Faraday and his further experiments combining magnetism and motion to produce electricity.
Learn more about Michael Faraday's law, the effect this has on Lenz's law, and the way magnets and coils work.
Learn more about the properties of electromagnetism, famous scientists who developed electromagnetic experiments, and how it is commonly used in contemporary science.
Electricity and Magnetism
On this site a brief history of magnets and electricity are outlined. Also included are diagrams and formulas to explain the processes of magnetic currents and voltage. Electromagnetism is discussed as are tips for electrical safety.
Electric Motors and Generators
Learn how magnets and small motors work through the detailed descriptions, formulas, and animations found on this site.
Homopolar Motors and Generators
Learn about homopolar motors and how they differ from multipolar motors. View animations and video clips of these ideas put into practice.
YouTube: Magnet Show
View demonstrations of magnets and electricity with these projects. The Lorentz force and Laplace Law are two physics principles put into action. NOTE: This site includes ads and a discussion board.
BBC: Physics - Electricity and Magnetism
This lesson plan helps students better understand electricity currents and how this is related to magnets. Resources, activities, and a homework assignment are included.
BBC: Magnets and Effects of Electric Current - Activity
This narrated activity teaches you about the effects of electrical currents on energy, heat, magnets, and electromagnets. An interactive quiz can be found at the end of this lesson. This lesson can be adapted for individual or classroom use on the Smart Board.
Static Electricity Activity
This interactive site allows you to learn more about how electrons cause static electricity.
Click on magnets and weights to learn about the connection between electromagnets and batteries.
Electricity Current Activity
Use this interactive site to learn more about voltage, resistance, batteries, and electrical currents.
Create a Circuit Activity
Follow the directions to create a complete circuit between wires, a battery, and a light bulb.
eThemes Resource: Electricity: Circuits, Conductors, and Batteries
These sites have lots of illustrations and animations that demonstrate how electricity, circuits, and batteries work. Learn the difference between conductors and insulators and the difference between series circuits and parallel circuits. Includes a lesson plan, suggested activities, hands-on experiments, and online games and quizzes. There are links to eThemes resources on electrical safety, current and static electricity.
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