Designing High School Lenz's Law Experiment

In summary, the conversation discusses ways to maximize the use of Lenz's law experiment in teaching high school physics. The idea is to use a long copper tube and magnets to calculate the magnetic force and field strength, without the need for extra equipment. The link provided also offers helpful tips for this demonstration.
  • #1
qasabah
3
0
I teach high school physics and I would like to get maximum mileage out of my Lenz's law experiment/demonstration.

I am going to get the students to drop magnets down a long copper tube to calculate the magnetic force using distance, time etc and making a direct calculation using Fnet=...

What I'd also like to be able to do is use this set-up in some way to calculate the magnetic field strength of the magnets.

Can anyone think of a way to achieve this without the addition of a lot of extra equipment?
 
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  • #2
See http://www.ndt-ed.org/TeachingResources/NDT_Tips/LenzLaw.htm
 
  • #3
Thank you. That is a good demonstration.

I am planning to use long copper tunes to show the slowing effect due to the opposing fields and was wondering if I could incorporate this set-up and get to the strength of the magnets through that.
 

1. What is Lenz's Law and why is it important to study in high school?

Lenz's Law is a fundamental law in electromagnetism that describes the direction of induced electromotive force (emf) and current in a circuit. It is important to study in high school because it helps students understand the relationship between magnetic fields and current, and it is also a key concept in understanding how electric motors and generators work.

2. What materials are needed for a high school Lenz's Law experiment?

The materials needed for a high school Lenz's Law experiment include a power supply or battery, a conducting wire, a coil of wire, a magnet, a compass, and a switch. Optional materials may include a multimeter and various objects to test with the experiment.

3. What is the procedure for conducting a high school Lenz's Law experiment?

The procedure for conducting a high school Lenz's Law experiment typically involves setting up the conducting wire, coil, magnet, and compass in a circuit and then observing the deflection of the compass needle when the switch is opened or closed. The experiment can also be modified by using different objects to test with the setup.

4. What are some potential sources of error in a high school Lenz's Law experiment?

Some potential sources of error in a high school Lenz's Law experiment may include variations in the strength of the magnet, resistance in the wire, and the accuracy of the compass. Additionally, human error such as not properly closing or opening the switch can also affect the results of the experiment.

5. How can the results of a high school Lenz's Law experiment be analyzed?

The results of a high school Lenz's Law experiment can be analyzed by comparing the direction of the induced current to the direction of the magnetic field. Students can also calculate the induced emf using the formula V = -N(dΦ/dt), where N is the number of turns in the coil and dΦ/dt is the rate of change of magnetic flux. Graphing the results can also help students visualize the relationship between the induced current and the magnetic field.

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