Electromagnets and Permanent Magnets
In this simulation, the student uses a compass to determine the direction of the magnetic field produced by a permanent magnet or an electromagnet. The student can also measure field strength with a magnetic field probe. Electromagnets attached to DC and AC electrical power are provided for comparison purposes. Lesson plans are also available for the teacher on this site. The student uses a compass to explore the magnetic field around permanent and electromagnets in order to see how these fields compare to each other. The simulation of the electromagnet helps the student see that moving charge in a circuit produces a magnetic field, and that the field can be made stronger by putting more loops in a coil. By using an AC power source, the student can see that the direction of the magnetic field is linked to the direction of the electrical current.
