Discovering and Analyzing Magnetic Fields with Solenoids 1Running head: DISCOVERING AND ANALYZING MAGNETIC FIELDS WITH SOLENOIDSDiscovering and Analyzing Magnetic Fields with Solenoids in Introductory PhysicsJames KennicuttPhysics 690Discovering and Analyzing Magnetic Fields with Solenoids 2AbstractUnderstanding electricity and magnetism is often difficult for students in many physics courses. Constructing solenoids using a D-Cell flashlight battery, copper wire, a nail, and a straw can help students understand this difficult topic. This activity is designed to help students experience magnetic phenomena and visualize magnetic fields around a current-carrying wire. Students also learn about the changes in intensity of magnetic fields at different distances away from the solenoid and when an iron core is introduced into the solenoid.Discovering and Analyzing Magnetic Fields with Solenoids 3Discovering and Analyzing Magnetic Fields with Solenoids in Introductory PhysicsJames Kennicutt Departmentt. of Physics, SUNY-Buffalo State College, 1300 Elmwood Ave, Buffalo, NY 14222 <[email protected]> is this email still good?Abstract:Understanding electricity and magnetism is often difficult for introductory physics students in many physics courses.partially due to a lack of familiarity, exploration and reflection upon electromagnetic phenomena. This activity was designed to help students experience and reflect upon magnetic phenomena and visualize magnetic fields around a current-carrying wire. ConstructingStudents constructed solenoids using a D-Cell flashlight battery, copper wire, a nail, and a straw. Students were guided thoughw can help students understand this difficult topic. This activity is designed to help students experience magnetic phenomena and visualize magnetic fields around a current-carrying wire. Students. a ctivities and explored also learn about the changes in intensity of magnetic fields at different distances away from the solenoid, and the effects due to introducing and when an iron core is introduced into the solenoid. Supplementing the qualitative conceptual experience, sample relevant calculations were also included for this activity.Acknowledgement: This manuscript partially fulfilled requirements for PHY690: Master's Project at SUNY- Buffalo State College, advised by Dr. Dan MacIsaac.Discovering and Analyzing Magnetic Fields with Solenoids 4In my experience teaching introductory physics for high school students, I’ve noticed thatMy introductory high school physics students tend to struggled with the concept s of associated magnetic fields and the effects of electromagnetism. Being able tovisualize magnetic fields in three dimensions is a significant challenge students face (Nguyen, 2005). The ability to fill in empty space with what a magnetic field may look like is a difficult task for students (Sawicki, 1997). In order to help students understandanchor this these ideas in concrete objectstopic, it is was important to provide my them students the opportunity to gain visual and kinesthetic experience with electromagnetism (Arons, 1997) Is this a direct quote with an associated page number?. Visualizing magnetic fields in three dimensions is a significant challenge students face (Nguyen, 2005). The ability to fill in empty space with what a magnetic field may look like is a difficult task for students (Sawicki, 1997). Allowing students to construct models of a solenoid (or a wire wrapped in a coil) can was be beneficial for helping students with visualizing magnetic fields (MacIsaac, 2009) (Picture 01). The My goal is was to create an interactive activity for my students to help them understand how these magnetic fields behave and interact with the world around them; as well asto gain the hands-on experience that has been proven widely believed to helps students understandDiscovering and Analyzing Magnetic Fields with Solenoids 5magnetism. This simple activity of constructing low cost solenoids provideds students experience with magnetic phenomena and is designed to increase their student spatial understanding of three-dimensional magnetic fields. This activity facilitated the exploration of the magnetic interactions of solenoids with different materials and the effects of different geometries of current-carrying wires on the magnetic fields created. By editing the associated mathematical examples, the activity could be modified (reducedor extended) Depending on the level of comprehension you are expecting from your students, this activity wouldas be appropriate for various curriculum levels. The activity is designed for an introductory high school physics class but can be modified to fit meet the needs of a conceptual physics, AP physics, or even a calculus-based introductory college physics course. The activity will facilitate the exploration of the interactions of solenoids with different materials and the effects different designs have on the magnetic fields generated. Prior to this solenoid construction activity, I covered my students read the basic theory of magnetic fields surrounding permanent magnets and current carrying wires using various activities (Knight, 2008; Modeling Curriculum, E&M Unit 4 Lab 1 v 3.0, available from <http://modeling.asu.edu/Curriculum.html>).. (Diagram 02, Diagram 03). For helpIn related activities understanding these concepts, students utilized a magnetic compass and iron filings (Diagram 02, Diagram 03) to view the magnetic field around a vertical current carrying wire (Modeling Curriculum, E&M Unit 4 Lab 1 v 3.0).<-- Dan How Do I Cite This. ? ThisThe Modeling activitiesy was were designed to help students become familiar with magnetic fields as well as introduce them to the Right Hand Rule #2 (Diagram 04). Another activity used iron filings and aDiscovering and Analyzing Magnetic Fields with Solenoids 6compass to view the magnetic field around permanent magnets. Students placed a compass at various distances from a single permanent magnet to observe how the magnet attracted and repelled the north and south poles of a compass. This was a great activity for students to see how the needle of the compass deflected greatly when close to the magnet and deflected only slightly when placed a foot away (Riveros & Betancourt, 2009). Other topics covered included magnetic fields created by a current running through a circular wire and work problems using the Right Hand Rules to determine the direction the magnetic field is
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