What factors affect heating by eddy currents? How does the resistance between two points on a conducting sheet vary with distance? How does the resistance between two flat plates in a tank of conducting liquid vary with their spacing? Make an electrostatic dust collector How does the resistance in an LC circuit affect the resonance? Two magnets are arranged on top of each other such that one of them is fixed and the other one can move vertically. Investigate oscillations of the magnet. Charged plastic and paper fragments A charged plastic ruler can make a small piece of paper stand on its end. The separation of the ruler and the paper when the paper just stands up is a measure of the electrostatic force. Investigate the factors that affect the strength of this electrostatic force. Electromagnetic cannon A solenoid can be used to fire a small ball. A capacitor is used to energize the solenoid coil. Build a device with a capacitor charged to a maximum 50V. Investigate the relevant parameters and maximize the speed of the ball. Faraday Generator Construct a homopolar electric generator. Investigate the electrical properties of the device and find its efficiency. Coupled compasses Place a compass on a table. Place a similar compass next to the first one and shake it gently to make the needle start oscillating. The original compass' needle will start oscillating. Observe and explain the behaviour of these coupled oscillators. Transformers The "simple transformer law" relates output voltage to input voltage and turns ratio. Investigate the importance of frequency and other parameters in determining the non-ideal behaviour of transformers. Electromagnetic motor Attach a strong light magnet to the head of a steel screw. The screw can now hang from the terminal of a battery. Completing the circuit by a sliding contact on the magnet causes the screw to rotate. Investigate the parameters that determine the angular velocity of the screw. Rolling magnets
What factors affect heating by eddy currents? How does the resistance between two points on a conducting sheet vary with distance? How does the resistance between two flat plates in a tank of conducting liquid vary with their spacing? Make an electrostatic dust collector How does the resistance in an LC circuit affect the resonance? Two magnets are arranged on top of each other such that one of them is fixed and the other one can move vertically. Investigate oscillations of the magnet. Charged plastic and paper fragments A charged plastic ruler can make a small piece of paper stand on its end. The separation of the ruler and the paper when the paper just stands up is a measure of the electrostatic force. Investigate the factors that affect the strength of this electrostatic force. Electromagnetic cannon A solenoid can be used to fire a small ball. A capacitor is used to energize the solenoid coil. Build a device with a capacitor charged to a maximum 50V. Investigate the relevant parameters and maximize the speed of the ball. Faraday Generator Construct a homopolar electric generator. Investigate the electrical properties of the device and find its efficiency. Coupled compasses Place a compass on a table. Place a similar compass next to the first one and shake it gently to make the needle start oscillating. The original compass' needle will start oscillating. Observe and explain the behaviour of these coupled oscillators. Transformers The "simple transformer law" relates output voltage to input voltage and turns ratio. Investigate the importance of frequency and other parameters in determining the non-ideal behaviour of transformers. Electromagnetic motor Attach a strong light magnet to the head of a steel screw. The screw can now hang from the terminal of a battery. Completing the circuit by a sliding contact on the magnet causes the screw to rotate. Investigate the parameters that determine the angular velocity of the screw. Rolling magnets
Examples-of-investigations.docx