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Lab
he magnetic field produced by permanent magnets is a familiar phenomenon (fridge magnets, or those horseshoe shaped ones in Bugs Bunny cartoons). However, there is another much more useful source of magnetic field: moving electric charges. And electric currents are made up of moving charges, lots and lots of them. So, the purpose in this lab is to look at how currents generate magnetic fields, their strength and their orientation. The approach in this lab will be inquiry based; meaning that you will not be give specific step by step instructions with a predefined conclusion. Instead, you will be given a little guidance, and then you will use hands on experimentation, critical reasoning, and group discussion to generate understanding of our physical universe. In practice, this is how novel science is done. DC power supply, resistance box, small compass, digital multimeter, wires with banana plugs, clamp stand, magnetic field probe, LabPro interface and software, 3200 turn solenoid, throw switch, round magnet, iron filings, cardboard sheet
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Warning: the power supply can generate significant current. Be sure to use the 10 resistor only, it is rated for 3 W of power. Keep the total power through your circuit below 3 W.
(Remember
How does the compass work? (e. g. Can it be used in any orientation?) Is there background? How do we obtain quantitative data? What can you vary? What can you measure? How do you define your coordinates/ angular displacements? Is your method reproducible?
Analysis Analyze your data graphically using Excel. Be sure to fit the lines (or curves). Make interpretations of you graph(s), do they shed light on the nature of the magnetic field due to a current? What conclusions can you draw? Be sure to explain. Do your trust your results (reproducible? noisy data?). What precautions did you take to prevent experimental problems (e.g. systematic errors, reproducibility)?
First secure the iron core inside of the solenoid. Then, with the power supply off, connect the solenoid in series with the resistor from the setup you used in Part I. The computer has two files prepared for collecting data with the magnetic field probe. Also, as with any measurement device, you may want to test your magnetic field probe to see how it is meant to work.
10/22/2012 10:33 AM
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Analysis As for Part I, analyze your data graphically using Excel. Be sure to fit the lines/ curves. Make interpretations of you graph(s), do they shed light on the nature of the magnetic field generated by passing current through the solenoid? What conclusions can you draw? Be sure to explain. Do your trust your results (reproducible? noisy data?). What precautions did you take to prevent experimental problems (e.g. systematic errors, reproducibility)? Compare the two measurement devices (compass vs. magnetic field probe) considering the following. Which device (compass or sensor) do you like better for characterizing the strength of the field? The direction of the field? Is one more accurate than the other? More sensitive? Explain.
10/22/2012 10:33 AM