Thursday, August 5, 2010

electromagnetism for kids

Here's a hands-on activity everyone should try.

What you need:
  1. a hand-powered (e.g. crank) electric generator
  2. a load (e.g. lamp) which can be connected to the generator by a switch

Turn the crank with no load connected, then with the load. Feel how the generator is noticeably harder to turn.

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Another idea:
a motor/generator (one device that can function as either?)

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Automobiles are now equipped with regenerative braking systems . Bicycles too! Actually bikes have had little generators used to power lights almost as far back as I can remember. And these impede the free forward motion of the cyclist a little. However they were not used for the purpose of braking, but rather for lighting for night time riding.

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