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Activity (Hands-On)Grades 9 - 11

Energy Innovator: Be Your Own Generator

A photograph of the initial stages of the copper coil generator prototype. At bottom, a CD with magnets glued to the back; at top, another CD with copper coils glued to the back, and a red LED attached to the center of the generator.Let your students become energy innovators!

Exploring the phenomena of electromagnetism and current generation are great ways to help students gain an understanding of how these concepts are used in engineering design. This activity allows students to make sense of, design, and create their own magnetic field generator without the use of batteries. As they create their own generator, students learn how electricity can been created using circuits and magnetism—hence, discovering the phenomenon of electromagnetism! While thinking critically about how magnetic fields work, students develop a design for a generator using magnets, copper wire, discs, and LED indicator lights.

Power and energy are used every day to generate electricity. However, the methods or sources used to create power can impact our environment. For example, non-renewable resources, such as fossil fuels, release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Although energy from the sun is available for use, it can become very costly to transition to solar products. Students can use more environmentally-friendly methods to generate electricity with household items. By doing so, students can also reduce costs and become more energy-efficient.

After this activity, students should be able to:

  • Describe the flow of the current in a generator.
  • Discuss the effects of magnetism in the context of their generator design.
  • Solve problems involving voltage, current, and resistance.
  • Think about, design, and improve a generator.

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