Diving into the Physics of Motors and Generators

Design a 50 Year Energy Plan
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Intended Grade Level(s):
9-12
Energy Content:
Circuitry,
Electrical Energy,
Electricity Generation,
Electronics,
Electrons
Learning Goal(s):

1. Through hands-on exploration, create a working speaker for a cellphone.

2. Use the creation of a speaker to observe as a model for the process of generating electrical current in a simple generator/motor. 

Unit:
50 Year Energy Plan
Lesson Number:
2
Pedagogy & Practice:
Engineering Design,
Group Work/Collaboration,
Hands-on Materials,
Phenomena-Driven Instruction,
Research-Secondary
NGSS Science and Engineering Practices:
1: Asking Questions and Defining Problems,
7: Engaging in Argument from Evidence,
8: Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information
Relevant NGSS PE:
HS-PS2-5,
HS-PS3-3
Estimated Activity Length:
5 hours
Files Associated with this Activity:
PDF icon 50 Year Energy Plan - Lesson 2.pdf
PDF icon Guitar Activity and Instructions.pdf
PDF icon Key for Quiz on the Basic Physics of Motors & Generators.pdf
PDF icon Quiz on the Basic Physics of Motors & Generators.pdf
Description:

Using energy analysis and some tinkering students hand wind speakers to play music from a phone. This acts as a phenomenon to engage students in the exploration of electromagnetism. At this point, they have created a motor, which utilizes electric current to perform work (the speaker itself creating noise). They can then explore the reversal of this process in the next lesson. Next, we disassemble the speakers and connect them to simple, student-made $3 guitars to make them electric guitars. This process reversal of the speaker system above, and students are given insight into how generators work. They can spend time optimizing different parts of their guitar design for as long as they choose in order to make it more effective or clear. 

Science Kit Material(s) Used:
Multimeter
Other Material(s) Used:
• Masking Tape • 1 Clear • 2 Clear buckets • Water • 2 Food Coloring – Blue and Yellow • 3 Light Bulbs (1.5 V) • 3 Alligator Clips • 1 Bar Magnets • 2 magnetic compasses • Hand generators • Spools of enameled wire