Yogurt Cup Speakers
Students are introduced to the role of electricity and magnetism as they build speakers. They also explore the properties of magnets, create electromagnets, and determine the directions of magnetic fields. They conduct a scientific experiment and show cause-effect relationships by monitoring changes in the speaker's movement as the amount or the direction of the current change.
Students examine circuits through yogurt cup speakersCopyright 2005 Center for Engineering and Computing Education, University of South Carolina
The study of electromagnetism is the foundation of electrical engineering. In addition, it finds wide application in other engineering disciplines. For example, electromagnets are essential to the design of electric generators and electric motors and therefore to the work of mechanical engineers. They are also used by aerospace engineers as electromagnetic propulsion systems can provide moving power for spacecraft.
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Create an electromagnetic field by running current through a wire coil.
- Explain that electric currents produce magnetic fields. The stronger the current, the more intense the magnetic field.
- Explain how electricity and magnetism are related concepts.
- Describe properties and characteristics of magnets:
- Magnets can be permanent or temporary.
- Magnets and electromagnets attract or repel each other; similar poles repel, while dissimilar poles attract.
- Magnets and electromagnets attract or repel another objects.
- Magnets and electromagnets exert forces at a distance through magnetic fields.