This is where it all comes together. How do we get the majority of our current? We get it from electromagnetic interactions in a generator. Let’s put the icing on the electricity cake by understanding how they work!
Avon Lake Power Plant c. 1965 (above) and c. 1925 (below)
Fun fact: Your teacher’s great grandfather was the architect of the plant!
(Please don’t blame him for the subsequent additions.
He just did the original part of the building.)
RESOURCES FOR THIS UNIT
Full teacher notes available by request via email to [email protected]
from an official educational institution email address.
VIDEO LECTURES
DISCLAIMER: These videos were made late at night (like, very late!) in a darkened, empty, slightly scary school building in the frantic early days of online schooling in March 2020. These videos are not as polished as Mrs. B prefers, and, in particular, her rambling explanation of emf makes her imitate the SMH emoji. Mrs. B was tired. (Mrs. B is probably still tired, even as you read this, future viewers LOL.) Still, the content is solid, so proceed with a heart full of forgiveness for a few stumbles and yawns.
Video 1: Introduction and Magnetic Force on a Moving Charge (two parts)
Video 2: Magnetic Force on Current-Carrying Wires
Sweet demo at 11:30 (MIT lecture)
Video 3: Magnetic Force BY Current-Carrying Wires
There’s a sweet demo at 15:00 in the same MIT lecture as the one under video 2. Be sure to watch it. Below is a good animation of a device called a solenoid. We’ll use these in class. Be sure to watch the video.
Video 4: Electromagnetism
HELPFUL WEBSITES
- PhET Generator helps you visualize magnetic fields and magnetic domains. It also allows you to play with a simple electromagnet and create alternating current with a simple generator. Click on all the tabs and explore the options.
- PhET Faraday’s Law is simplistic but helpful.