Explore Electromagnetism in the Classroom with PocketLab
PocketLab Voyager and PocketLab One's magnetometer provide a unique and easily accessible way to explore electromagnetism in your classroom. Check out these classroom activities below:
1) Magnetic Field on Current Loop's Axis
In this lesson, students will find that a current- carrying loop can be regarded as a dipole, as it generates a magnetic field for points on its axis (see GIF above). Written by Dr. Richard Born. Click here for the complete lesson.
2) Inverse Cube Law for Neodynium Dipole Magnet
Use PocketLab to investigate and verify the inverse cube law for the magnetic field of a magnet as a function of distance from the magnet. All that is needed in addition to the PocketLab is a ruler, a small magnet, a small block of wood, and double stick tape. Written by Dr. Richard Born. Click here for the complete lesson.
3) Investigating Ampere's Law for a Long Current-Carrying Wire
In the early 1800s, Hans Oersted discovered that current produces magnetic effects. The quantitative relationship between magnetic field strength and current flow was later embodied in Ampere's Law, an extension made by James Clerk Maxwell which became one of the four basic equations of electromagnetism. Written by Dr. Richard Born. Click here for the complete lesson.
4) Magnetic Field from a Current through a Metal Slinky
With a PocketLab and an electric current running through a metal Slinky, the connection between electricity and magnetism can be observed. Students will explore how the magnetic field changes as an electric current runs through a slinky, and determine how the field changes as the direction and strength of the current changes. Click here for the complete lesson.
PocketLab Magnetometer Maker Projects
1) Build a PocketLab based Seismograph
Small earthquakes can be difficult to notice. In order to detect low magnitude earthquakes, we wanted to build a very sensitive Seismometer. This project was quite easy, involving some carpentry, and figuring out how to use PocketLab's magnetometer as the detector. An iPad was used for data collection. Click here for the complete project.
2) Measuring Magnetic Field of Washing Machine with PocketLab
"Using a PocketLab put on the top of a washing machine, we measure the magnetic field generated by the motor. The magnitude of this vector is used to detect if the motor is on, and when the motor has been off for some time, we say that the cycle is finished." Written by user Martin Isacksson. Martin used the R programming language in the project. Click here for the complete project.