Magnetic fields can be used to make electricity

Moving a magnet around a coil of wire, or moving a coil of wire around a magnet,

pushes the electrons in the wire and creates
an electrical current. Electricity generators essentially convert kinetic energy (the
energy of motion) into electrical energy.

Electricity explainedMagnets and

electricity
The spinning of the electrons around the nucleus of an atom creates a tiny magnetic
field. The electrons in most objects spin in random directions, and their magnetic forces
cancel each other out.

Magnets are different because the molecules in magnets are arranged so that their
electrons spin in the same direction. This arrangement and movement creates a
magnetic force that flows out from a north-seeking pole and from a south-seeking pole.
This magnetic force creates a magnetic field around a magnet.

Have you ever held two magnets close to each other? They don't act like most objects.
If you try to push the two north poles or two south poles together, they repel each other.
But if you put a north pole and a south pole together, the magnets will stick together
because the north and south poles attract each other. Just like protons and electrons—
opposites attract in magnets.

Magnetic field around a bar magnet

Source: National Energy Education Development Project (public domain)

Magnetic fields can be used to make electricity

The properties of magnets are used to make electricity. Moving magnetic fields pull and
push electrons. Metals such as copper and aluminum have electrons that are loosely
held. Moving a magnet around a coil of wire, or moving a coil of wire around a magnet,
pushes the electrons in the wire and creates an electrical current. Electricity
generators essentially convert kinetic energy (the energy of motion) into electrical
energy.

How Are Magnets Used to Generate

Electricity?

Things That Use Electricity & Magnets

Updated October 29, 2018

By Bert Markgraf

When a conductor is placed in a changing magnetic field, the electrons in the

conductor move, generating an electric current. Magnets produce such magnetic fields
and can be used in various configurations to generate electricity. Depending on the
kind of magnet used, a rotating electric generator can have magnets placed in
different locations and can generate electricity in different ways. Most of the electricity
in use comes from generators that use magnetic fields to produce that electricity.
TL;DR (Too Long; Didn't Read)

Electric generators rotate coils of wires through magnetic fields created by permanent
or electric magnets. As the conducting coils move through the magnetic fields, the
electrons in the wires move, creating an electric current.

Using Magnetism to Create Electricity

While an increasing amount of electricity is produced by solar panels and a small

amount is obtained from batteries, most electricity comes from generators that use
magnetic fields to create electricity. These generators are made up of coils of wire that
are either rotated through magnetic fields or are stationary around a shaft with rotating
magnets. In either case, the coils of wire are exposed to changing magnetic fields
created by the magnets.

The magnets can be permanent or electric magnets. Permanent magnets are mainly
used in small generators, and they have the advantage that they don't need a power
supply. Electric magnets are iron or steel wound with wire. When electricity passes
through the wire, the metal becomes magnetic and creates a magnetic field.

The coils of wire of the generators are conductors, and when the electrons in the wires
are exposed to changing magnetic fields, they move, creating an electric current in the
wires. The wires are connected together, and the electricity eventually leaves the
power station and goes on to power homes and factories.

Trying to Build a Perpetual Magnetic Generator

When permanent magnets are used in a generator, you just have to turn the generator
shaft to produce electricity. After these generators were first developed, people
thought they could get the generator to power a motor that would then turn the
generator. They thought if the motor and generator were matched exactly, they could
build a magnetic power source that would run forever as a perpetual motion machine.

Unfortunately, it didn't work. Although such generators and motors are very efficient,
they still have electric losses in the resistance of the wires, and there is friction in the
shaft bearings. Even when the people doing the experiments got the generator-motor
unit to run for a while, eventually it would stop because of the losses and the friction.

How a Typical Power Plant Generator Works

Large power plants have big, room-sized generators that produce electricity using
magnetic fields from electric magnets. Usually the electric magnets are mounted on a
shaft and are connected to the electric power supply. When the electricity is switched
on, the electric magnets create powerful magnetic fields. Coils of wire are mounted
around the shaft. As the shaft with the magnets rotates, the coils of wire are exposed
to changing magnetic fields, and an electric current is generated in the wires.

Many different methods can be used to make the shafts of the generators rotate and
produce electricity. In wind turbines, the propeller rotates the shaft. In coal and nuclear
power plants, the heat from burning the coal or from the nuclear reaction creates
steam to run a turbine that drives the generator. In natural gas-powered plants, a gas
turbine does the same job. Power plants need a source of energy that can make the
generator shaft rotate, and then the magnets can produce the magnetic fields that
generate electricity.

Things That Use Electricity & Magnets

Electricity and magnetism power the modern world. Most of our modern technological
marvels use either electricity or magnetism in some way. Some devices use both.
Magnetism and electricity are connected at a fundamental level. Electricity can be
created by magnetism, and magnetic fields can be created by electricity.

Electric Motors

Electric motors are devices that convert electrical energy into motion. They do this by
use of magnets. Oersted's Principle shows that electrical currents create their own
magnetic fields. Motors work by making electricity flow into loops of wire that are
suspended inside a magnetic field created by magnets. The magnetic field that the
loops of wire create push against the magnetic field of the magnets, causing them to
rotate. This rotation turns the axle of the motor, and anything the axle is attached to.

Electric Generators

Electric generators are similar to electric motors. They are also formed of loops of wire
suspended in a magnetic field created by magnets. However, they work in exactly the
opposite manner from motors. Generators use motion to create electricity by means of
magnets. Faraday's Law shows that when a wire is exposed to a changing magnetic
field, an electrical current arises. When the axle of the generator is turned, the loop of
wire turns. This causes the loop to be continually exposed to a changing magnetic
field, which causes electricity to flow in the loop. Generators use many different power
sources to turn the axle and loops, such as propellers driven by wind, wheels turned
by water, and even hand cranks.
Electromagnets

Electromagnets are man-made devices that mimic the effects of natural magnets.
Electromagnets are essentially just coils of wire attached to a battery or other source
of electricity. By Oersted's Principle the current in the coil creates a magnetic field.
The shape of the coil makes the magnetic field take the same shape as that of a bar
magnet. Electromagnets can do anything that natural magnets can do. They can also
do some things that natural magnets can't: their strengths can be altered by altering
the current flowing in them. They can also be turned off.

Superconducting Magnets

Superconducting magnets are similar to electromagnets. However, they are made of

special materials that have virtually zero electrical resistance. Because of this, once
electricity starts flowing in a superconductor it keeps on flowing even when the power
source is removed. Coils of superconducting wire can generate magnetic fields even
without a battery or power source.

How to Store Energy by Using Dynamo

A dynamo is an electric generator that produces direct current using a commutator. A
commutator is a device that reverses the direction of current. The dynamo uses wire
coils that rotate creating a magnetic field. This action converts the mechanical energy
of the rotation to a direct electric current. The inclusion of a capacitor allows the
dynamo to generate charge and the commutator transfers the charge to the capacitor
for storage.

Hold the dynamo securely and begin rotating the hand-turn rotor clockwise. There will
be some resistance until the rotating coils gain momentum.

Turn the hand-turn rotor in a clockwise manner for 30 seconds and then stop turning
it.

Allow the dynamo to come to a stop. Plug in an electrical item and test if the current is
flowing. If so, the mechanical energy has been converted to electrical energy, stored
in the capacitor and transferred to the electrical item.
The Difference Between a Turbine & a
Generator
Turbines and generators are both used in the production of electric power, but the
turbine converts available energy forms into rotation while the generator converts
rotation into electricity. Depending on the type of energy they use, power plants have
corresponding types of turbines and use them to power generators. Turbines have
many other uses besides powering generators, but all generators produce electricity.
In addition to having different purposes and functions, turbines and generators are
built completely differently. About the only thing they have in common is that they both
spin.

TL;DR (Too Long; Didn't Read)

Turbines are used to convert different types of energy into rotation while generators
convert rotation into electricity. Turbines have many other applications, such as
powering ships and airplanes, but all generators produce electricity.

How a Turbine Generator Works

Turbine generators are used to generate electricity. The type of turbine used depends
on the type of energy used to power the turbine. For example, a jet engine uses jet
fuel to power its turbine while a wind turbine uses wind energy. Even when turbines
are similar, they may use different fuels. For example, the difference between gas and
steam turbines is that a gas turbine burns natural gas while a steam turbine is
powered by steam from boilers. In each case, the external source of energy makes the
turbine spin.

The turbine shaft is connected to the generator shaft, and the turbine makes the
generator rotate. Some turbines, such as those used for jet engine generators, spin
very fast. In that case, the speed may have to be reduced by a gear box before
connecting to the generator. When the generator turns, coils of wire move through a
magnetic field, and electric current is produced in the wires. The electric current runs
through transmission lines to homes where it powers lights, electric heaters and
electric appliances.

How Turbines and Generators Are Built Differently

Turbines are made up of blades that rotate around a central shaft, a little bit like fans.
Wind turbines are a good exampe of large turbines that rotate slowly. For water
turbines, there are only a few large blades while for gas and steam turbines, there are
many layers of small blades that spin rapidly. In every case, a liquid or gas such as
water or air flows through the blades to make them spin and power the turbine shaft.
Generators also have a central shaft, but magnets wound with wire are mounted on it.
The shaft and magnets make up the generator rotor. Around the shaft and the
magnets are stationary coils of wire that make up the generator stator. When the shaft
rotates, the magnets of the rotor produce magnetic fields that pass over the coils of
wire in the stator, generating an electrical current in them. In some generators, the
magnets remain fixed, and the coils of wire are mounted on the shaft. In either case,
the generators always have magnetic fields passing over coils of wire to produce
electric current.

Differences in the Applications of Turbines and Generators

Turbines can be used to power generators, but they are also used in many other
applications to produce rotating power, mainly for transportation. Jet engines are
turbines that run on kerosene and either produce rotating power to turn propellers or
speed up hot gases to produce thrust for the jet airplane. Gas turbines burn natural
gas to power ships, and steam turbines use the pressure from boilers to produce
rotating power for industries. The rotating power from turbines can be used wherever
there is a need for driving rotating shafts.

The only function of generators is to produce electricity, but they are used in many
different ways. In addition to generating power for the electric grid in power stations,
they are used on ships, on offshore oil platforms and on airplanes to produce the
electricity required for lights and electric control systems. Cars have small generators
called alternators to produce electricity for charging the car battery and, emergency
generators are used when the main power fails.

Because turbines and generators are often used together in areas such as power
plants and wind turbines, they seem to be associated and seem to work the same
way. In fact, they are two different machines that fulfill different functions and work
based on completely different principles.

Basic Materials Used in an Electrical

Generator
Generators are machines that convert mechanical energy into electrical energy. The
mechanical energy can be falling water, steam pressure or wind power. The electricity
can be either Alternating Current (AC) or Direct Current (DC). The basic principle of
the generator was discovered in 1820. The basic parts of a generator are wire,
magnets and a rotating axis. When a wire is moved through a magnetic field, it causes
the electrons in the wire to flow.
The Rotor

The rotor is the central axis of the generator--it is the part that turns. Some form of
mechanical energy turns the rotor to generate the electricity. The rotor is supported at
both ends and it is wrapped with continuous loops of a single wire. The wire is usually
enameled copper wire--the wire must be insulated so that when the loops of the
wound wire touch each other there is no short circuit. Enameling is the cheapest way
to insulate the wire and it also provides a thin insulation so the rotor can have the
maximum number of windings. The more windings there are, the more electricity will
be generated.

The Stator

The stator is the fixed part of the generator that surrounds the rotor. The stator
provides the magnetic field that will cause the flow of electrons in the wire of the
spinning rotor. In larger generators, the magnets in the stator are actually
electromagnets--loops of wire around an iron core. The electricity to power the
electromagnets comes directly from the rotor. This means that there is an axillary
method to power the electromagnets until the rotor starts producing electricity, but this
is much better than having the enormous magnets that would be needed to operate a
large generator. In small generators--like the generators that are powered by bicycle
wheels to provide electricity for bicycle headlights--there are permanent magnets in
the stators.

The Rings and Brushes

Some method must be used to capture the electricity generated in the single wire of
the rotor and send it down a pair of wires. The standard way to do this is to attach the
ends of the rotor wire to two rings at one end or the rotor. Metal brushes ride on these
metal rings, and the output wires from the generator are attached to the two metal
brushes. The magnetic field of the stator causes a electric flow in the wire winding of
the rotor which causes each ring to become negative and positive in a regular cycle as
the rotor passes the north and south poles of the magnetic field. The oscillating
positive and negative potentials in the rings is transferred to the brushes and then
down the wires. By splitting each ring into two parts and using two wires in the
winding, you can insure that the positive potential always goes to the same wire and
the negative potential always goes to the other wire. Solid-ring generators produce AC
current, and split-ring generators generate DC current.

How to Produce Power With Magnets

Many power plants use moving magnets to convert kinetic and magnetic
energy into electric current. Magnet generators make a great science
project because of the simple instructions and intriguing premise. The
combined energy of the magnetic field and motion of the magnet within a
coil of copper wire causes the electrons in the wire to move, which is an
electric current. There are several variations on this type of experiment,
some more difficult to build than others. Making a shake-to-power magnet
generator is a simple way to demonstrate the power of magnetic
generators.

Parts of a Motor
Electric motor designs can vary quite a lot, though in general they have three main
parts: a rotor, a stator and a commutator. These three parts use the attractive and
repulsive forces of electromagnetism, causing the motor to spin continually as long as
it receives a steady flow of electric current.

Basic Principles

Motors work through the principles of electromagnetism. If you run electricity through a
wire, it creates a magnetic field. If you coil the wire around a rod and run electricity
through the wire, it creates a magnetic field around the rod. One end of the rod will
have a north magnetic pole and the other will have a south pole. Opposite poles
attract one another, like poles repel. When you surround that rod with other magnets,
the rod will rotate from the attractive and repulsive forces.

The Stator

Every electric motor has two essential parts: one stationary, and one that rotates. The
stationary part is the stator. Though configurations vary, the stator is most often a
permanent magnet or row of magnets lining the edge of the motor casing, which is
usually a round plastic drum.

The Rotor

Inserted into the stator is the rotor, usually consisting of copper wire wound into a coil
around an axle. When electric current flows through the coil, the resulting magnetic
field pushes against the field created by the stator, and makes the axle spin.

The Commutator: Basics

An electric motor has another important component, the commutator, which sits at one
end of the coil. It is a metal ring divided into two halves. It reverses the electrical
current in the coil each time the coil rotates half a turn. The commutator periodically
reverses the current between the rotor and the external circuit, or the battery. This
ensures that the ends of coils do not move in opposite directions, and ensures that the
axle spins in one direction.

More Commutator: Magnetic Poles

The commutator is necessary because the spinning rotor gets its motion from
magnetic attraction and repulsion between the rotor and the stator. To understand
this, imagine the motor turning in slow motion. When the rotor rotates to the point
where the south pole of the rotor magnet meets the north pole of the stator, the
attraction between the two poles will halt the spin in its tracks. To keep the rotor
spinning, the commutator reverses the magnet's polarity, so the rotor's south pole
becomes the north. The north pole of the rotor and the north pole of the stator then
repel each other, forcing the rotor to continue to spin.

Brushes and Terminals

At one end of the motor are the brushes and the terminals. They are at the opposite
end from where the rotor exits the motor casing. The brushes send electrical current to
the commutator and are typically made of graphite. The terminals are the locations
where the battery attaches to the motor and sends the current to spin the rotor.

How to Calculate Induced Armature

Voltage
An armature is the rotating solenoid inside of DC machines. Engineers use DC
machines to build a generator or a motor. When it's used as a generator, a gas turbine
or a diesel engine rotates the armature and the armature generates electric power.
When it's used as a motor, electric power rotates the armature and the armature
generates the mechanical energy needed to operate a motor. In both cases, the
armature rotates in a magnetic field to produce the required output.

Find the total number of conductors on the armature, or "Z." Refer to the armature
design specifications.

Find the speed of rotation of the armature, or "N," in revolutions per minute or rpms.
Refer to the armature design specifications.

Find the magnetic flux per pole on the armature, or "M," in units of Webers. Refer to
the armature design specifications.

Calculate the induced armature voltage using the formula Eo = (Z N M)/ 60 where Eo
is the induced armature voltage. For example, if Z is 360 conductors, N is 1200 rpm
and M is 0.04 Wb, then [(360)(1200)(0.04)]/60 equals 288 volts.
What Are the Parts of an AC Generator?
Devices that run using electrical power (phones, computers, dishwashers and coffee
machines) are used on a daily basis and make our lives easier. Electricity is brought to
our homes with the use of electrical generators. The modern electrical generators
work on the same basis as the generator invented by Michael Faraday in 1831. Most
commonly used generators are AC (alternative current) generators, which are the
daily power generators.

Definition

An electrical generator is a device that converts mechanical energy to electrical

energy. The law that governs it is the "electromagnetic induction" principle invented by
Faraday. The principle states that a changing magnetic field causes a voltage in a
conductor. There are two types of electrical generators: AC and DC (direct current)
generators. The AC generator produces current that continuously reverses direction
and the DC generator produces current that only flows in one direction.

Parts

The basic parts of an AC generator are the mechanical power, the magnets and one
or more rotors. Without any of these parts, electricity can't be produced. Each part has
its own role.

How It works

Each atom consists of an equal number of protons (positive) and electrons (negative).
Some materials (called conductors) have loosely held electrons that can flow from one
atom to the other. The electrons flow is called electricity. A magnet can easily cause a
flow of electrons from one atom to the other. When a magnet gets close to a wire, the
magnet's force causes electrons to flow and thus produces electricity. Inside an AC
generator one or more rotors (wire coils), put in motion by a mechanical force, rotate
inside a magnetic field.

Mechanical Energy

The mechanical energy is used by an AC generator to produce electricity. Sources

such as water, wind or coal can be used to put in motion the rotors inside a generator.
The most simple type of generator is put in motion by a hand crank. Bigger generators
can be put in motion by wind or water turbines, compressed air or internal combustion
engines. For example: If a river flows through or near a town, the mechanical energy
source is the water flow.
Magnet

The magnet is a material that produces magnetic field. It has a north and a south pole
and attracts ferromagnetic materials (metals that are attracted to the magnet and that
can be magnetized such as iron, nickel or cobalt). Inside an AC generator, a magnet
creates a magnetic field between the north and south pole. When the rotor moves
between the north and south pole of the magnet, the electrons in the coil begin to flow.

Rotor

The rotor is a coil of wire that spins inside the magnetic field. The material used for the
wire has to be a good conductor (made of atoms with loosely held electrons). When
the wire is close to the south pole, electrons flow one way and when it is close to the
north pole, electrons flow the other way. Because the wire spins from the north pole to
the south pole of the magnet and back to the north pole and so on, the electrical
current reverses direction constantly.

The Uses of Different Shaped Magnets

Magnets come in many different shapes and sizes. These shapes reflect the individual
strength of each magnet. The strength determines function.

Bar Magnets

Bar magnets are some of the weakest types of magnets and come in the shapes of
bars. The size of the magnet also effects it's strength, but in comparison to other
magnets of equal size, they have the least amount of magnetism. Bar magnets are
used for everyday functions such as hanging things on a refrigerator or for closing
cabinets. These magnets are the cheapest and easiest magnets to replace.

Horseshoe Magnets

Horseshoe magnets were originally made to compensate for the very weak strength of
bar magnets. By making both ends of the magnet point in the same direction, the
strength of the magnet basically doubles. These magnets are primarily used for
picking up paper clips or hard-to-reach small pieces of metal in construction or
engineering. They are also widely used in science experiments and classes, as they
are a simple magnetic tool to use.

Coiled Magnets

Magnets that are a helical coil of wire are called electromagnets, and they are some of
the strongest magnets that exist. However, they only become magnetic when there is
electrical current flowing through a wire into the magnet itself. The strength and
polarity of the magnetic field created by the electromagnet is adjustable based on the
current running through the wire. Electromagnets are used in moving parts such as
CD players, DVD players, automatic windows, hard drives and automatic doors in
supermarkets.

What Makes a Metal Magnetic?

Some metals seem to attract other metals more strongly. This force is
called magnetism.

Even before the discovery of electricity, scientists invented compasses, tiny strips of

naturally occurring magnets that rotate to align with the Earth’s magnetic field. Since
the field moves from south to north, the compass needle always point to the northern
magnetic pole.

Today, people can both mass-produce magnets and understand how they work.
Various types of magnet exist, and the magnetic metals list is longer than you might
think.

Magnetic Fields

When two metals are attracted to each other across space, one or both of them are
probably magnetic.

You may be most familiar with permanent magnets, which are stronger magnets
because they have iron in them. This type of magnetism is called ferromagnetism.
The Earth’s magnetic field is caused by the movements of the molten nickel-iron core
of the planet and can be seen when tiny charged particles from the sun collide with
Earth’s atmosphere close to our planet’s magnetic poles, causing them to emit light as
they do so.

Near the northern magnetic pole, we call the lighting of the magnetic field the northern
lights, or aurora borealis.

Electrons

The atoms that make up the molecules of all matter have a nucleus of neutrons and
protons.

Orbiting around all of the nuclei are electrons that carry a negative charge. The shape
of their orbits gives the atoms a directional orientation, and the orbital motion causes a
very weak magnetic field around the atom. Magnetic fields can be caused any time an
electrical current is active, but they are strongest when the electrical current is going
in a circular or spiral path.
 Electromagnets use this property, so their magnetism can be turned on and off as the
electrical current is turned on and off.

Magnetic Metals List

Certain metals have a structure that allows their electrons to more easily line up and
form a magnetic field.

Iron, nickel, cobalt and gadolinium are the easiest to magnetize. Metals like

aluminum and copper technically belong on any magnetic materials list, but the
magnetic fields they produce are very weak. Oxides and alloys that have iron in them
can also be magnetized easily, such as rust and steel. The more electrons in a metal
that can be lined up, the stronger the magnetic field they produce.

Natural Magnets

Magnetite is an oxide of iron that is frequently discovered in nature with a strong

magnetic field. Such samples of magnetite are called lodestones. Modern theories
suggest that the magnetite of lodestones was magnetized by lightning strikes.
Magnetite can easily have a strong magnetic field because its crystalline structure
allows large groups of molecules (called domains) to all have the same polar
orientation or direction.

Other minerals can have weak magnetism naturally because of their exposure to the
Earth’s magnetic field. Studying rocks from the ocean trenches allows us to see how
the Earth’s magnetic field has flipped (the north and south magnetic poles reversing)
over the millennia.

Making a Magnet

All you need to make your own magnet is to wrap lots of coils of copper wiring around
a steel bar or nail. Then with a small battery, run a current through the wiring, and the
metal will become magnetic (see Resources for instructions). The bar or nail should
retain some of its magnetism even after the electrical current has been turned off and
the wiring has been removed.

  Be careful not to touch the exposed metal of the nail or the wiring when the electrical
current is on. If the wiring is insulated, you can touch it while the current is active, but you may
want to connect a resistor to your circuit, or else the metal can quickly become too hot to
touch.
What Is the Difference Between a Windmill
& a Wind Turbine?
Windmills and wind turbines both harness wind energy and put it to practical use. The
difference is in how they do it: One is a machine with mechanics powered by the wind,
the other generates electricity for use elsewhere.

Windmills

Windmills convert wind energy directly into mechanical energy for such tasks as
milling grain--the source of the term--or pumping water, which is usually the purpose
of windmills you see on farms.

Windmill Mechanism

The spinning vanes of a windmill turn a camshaft, which is connected by gears and
rods to the machinery that does the work. All power is directed into the work

Wind Turbine

A wind turbine converts wind energy into electricity, which can then be used to power
electrical equipment, stored in batteries or transmitted over power lines.

Wind Turbine Mechanism

A wind turbine has essentially the same parts as a simple electric motor, but it works
in reverse: A motor uses electrical current to produce motion; a wind turbine uses
motion to create electrical current.

Terminology

Though "windmill" is frequently used by laypeople to describe electricity-generating

wind turbines, the wind power industry and windmill manufacturers both make a
careful distinction between the terms.

Things to Do With Rare Earth Magnets

Neodymium iron boron (NIB) magnets are usually called neodymium or rare-earth
magnets. They are extremely strong, having a magnetic pull-force that is 10 times
greater than ferrite magnets and 20,000 times greater than the Earth's magnetic field.
These magnets are brittle as well as powerful and they can shatter easily. If proper
care is taken when handling them, they can be put to many instructive and creative
uses.

Invisible Tool Holder

Put a 1/2-inch diameter cylindrical neodymium magnet in your pocket and it will act as
a tool holder. Any tool with a metal handle or shaft will be held on your trousers by the
magnet. If you don't want to risk ripping your trousers, make a magnetic tool belt by
gluing button-size magnets to the inside of a leather belt. You can also make a
magnetic tool holder for your workshop by drilling magnet-size holes in the back of a
piece of wood, inserting magnets in the holes, and hanging the wood on a wall so that
the magnets are hidden. Even though you can't see them, they will still strongly attract
metal.

Magnetic Sculptures

If you have a collection of neodymium magnets, get creative and build fantasy
structures that seem to defy gravity. For example, build a vertical wooden frame,
embed a magnet in the top horizontal bar and glue a second one to a string attached
to the bottom bar. The magnet on the string will be attracted to the top magnet and will
appear to hang in the air. Use magnets of different sizes and shapes to access your
inner artist.

Test Lenz's Law

Slide a neodymium magnet along a nonmagnetic conductive surface, such as copper,

and you'll notice that the magnet resists movement, even though it is not attracted to
the metal. This happens because the moving magnetic field creates an electrical field
in the conductive material, and this electrical field acts to oppose the magnetic filed.
This effect is known as Lenz's Law.

Repelling Grapes

Stick two grapes on the end of a straw and balance the straw on a pin stuck through a
plastic jar top. Move a neodymium magnet near one of the grapes, and it will move
away from the magnet. Then, turn the magnet over. Although you expect grape to be
attracted, it is repelled again. This happens because the water in the grape is
dimagnetic and is repelled by both poles of a magnet.

Make a Magnetic Generator

Set an old CD on a spindle so that it rotates freely, then glue a small neodymium
magnet to the top so that one pole is at the edge and facing outward. Move another
neodymium magnet close enough so that the magnets repel each other, and the CD
will turn. If you can figure out a way to synchronize the movement of the free magnet
so that the CD keeps spinning, you could revolutionize the energy industry.

Kinds of Magnets
Magnets are part of our daily lives in a number of different ways. Although most
people probably think of the brightly colored magnets attached to their refrigerator,
magnets come in much greater variety than that. Magnets are used in science,
industry and everyday life. Some are naturally formed, some are man-made; some are
permanent and others are temporary.

Types

Natural magnets are found in an iron-rich mineral called magnetite. Earth itself is a
magnet. Most magnets used today, however, are man-made and are created by
processing certain metallic alloys so the charges align. Man-made magnets can be
either temporary or permanent. Temporary magnets can be made by rubbing a piece
of magnetic metal, such as iron, or by passing electricity through the coils of an
electromagnet.

History

The earliest magnets were pieces of magnetite found by happenstance. Small pieces
of iron and magnetite were used for basic compasses by Chinese sailors more than
1,000 years ago. Modern studies of magnetism began with the work of William Gilbert
in the early 1600s, when he determined that Earth exhibited magnetism and that
magnetism could be changed by external processes.

Function

All magnets work on the same basic physics principles. In a magnet, the metal’s
atoms are arranged in groups called domains, in which the atomic alignments cause
the microscopic domains to become magnets on that scale. The domains themselves
align to create the larger magnet. The application of heat to the magnetic material
causes the alignments to remain stable, making a permanent magnet.

Size and Strength

Magnets vary widely in size, from tiny magnets used in electronics and manufacturing
to giant magnets used for cyclotron experimentation in physics. The strength of these
magnets can also vary greatly. A magnet like those used to stick to refrigerators
typically has a strength of about one-tenth of a tesla, the unit of magnetic induction.
The strongest magnet on record, an electromagnet built at the U.S. Department of
Energy's Berkeley Lab in 2001, had a strength of 14.7 tesla and was used to bend the
paths of high-speed atomic particles.
Benefits

One of the main practical uses of magnets is in the production of electricity. Just as
electricity can create magnetism in an electromagnet, the movement of magnets in a
generator can produce electricity. Magnets are also used for certain high-speed trains,
computers, telephones, factory machines and compasses.

How to Use a Magnet to Create Electricity

That magnets can create electricity was discovered accidentally by Hans Christian
Oersted in 1819 while giving a lecture. Waving a magnet past a circuit, he made an
ammeter twitch. By 1831, Englishman Michael Faraday and American Joseph Henry
independently had formalized the theory for this “induction” of a current. Specifically,
because the wires cut the magnetic field lines while the magnet is moving, a
quantifiable electromagnetic force arises in the wire--pushing electrons and thus
making a current.

Attach the ends of one of the two wires to the two contacts of an ammeter.

Wave a magnet over the wire. The ammeter should register both positive and negative
current as you wave it back and forth.

Make the circuit a little more complex--a little more like an AC generator--by attaching
the two wires to the two ammeter contacts, and attaching the available ends of the
wires to the opposite ends of a metal coil. Use a coil that is larger than the magnet, so
the magnet can fit inside.

Insert the (rodlike) magnet into the coil and take it back out again. As you do this
repeatedly, the ammeter needle should bounce back and forth, again registering
current in a positive and negative direction.

How to Create a Powerful Magnetic Field

The easiest way to create a powerful magnetic field is by creating a powerful
electromagnet. Electromagnets are used for everything from powering tiny electronic
switches (called relays) to lifting huge pieces of scrap metal. The density of the
winding, the amount of current flowing through the magnet and the material the wire is
wrapped around determine how strong the field is.

Select a piece of iron for the magnetic core. A 6 to 8 inch long piece of iron, such as a
large nail or spike, will create a powerful magnetic field, but you can use smaller or
bigger rods if you prefer.
Wrap the rod in magnetic wire (see Resources). Start at one end and wrap the wire all
the way to the other end. Cut the wire, leaving several inches of loose wire hanging off
either end. Wrap it as tightly as you can. The tighter the wire wrapping, the stronger
the magnetic field.

Tape the magnet wire to the iron rod to hold it in place.

Strip the insulation off the last inch of each end of the magnetic wire by heating it with
a lighter or match. Clean off any residue with a clean cloth.

Stick the exposed ends of magnetic wire under the coils of a lantern battery. This will
cause current to flow through the magnet, creating a magnetic field.

Homemade Generator Science Project

Making a homemade generator is an easy project that will work well for many science
fairs. Simple direct current (DC) generators have been made over a hundred years
from commonly available materials. A homemade generator can be a good base for
explaining both magnetic and electrical principles.

Materials

Because a basic generator is very simple, it can be made from readily available
components. For a basic generator, you will need a magnet, some wire and a large
nail. A low voltage flashlight bulb can show that the generator is actually producing
electricity. Cardboard will make the frame for the generator, and an inexpensive
socket for the light bulb will make it easier to hold the bulb against the power feeds
from the generator.

Construction

Make a rectangular support box out of cardboard. The box should be 8 cm high by 8
cm wide by 3.5 cm deep. Poke a hole through the box on the narrow axis. The hole
should be centered on both sides as the nail will become the axle for the magnet.
Slide the nail through the box and glue four magnets to the nail. Strong ceramic
magnets work best. Wrap the wire around the box, allowing the nail to poke through
the wire. The wire must be insulated so it doesn't short out. Strip the insulation off the
ends of the wire and connect it to the light bulb or bulb socket and spin the nail with
the magnets attached. The bulb should glow faintly. In some cases, you may need to
turn off the lights to see the faint glow. To make the bulb brighter, spin the nail faster.
If you'd like to spin the magnets faster, put the end of the nail in an electric drill. Be
careful not to spin the generator too quickly or it could come apart.
How it Works

The wire contains the potential for electricity. The magnetic fields surrounding the
magnets change the polarity of the atoms in the metal, thus causing electrons to be
released. The faster the magnets spin in the metal coil, the more electrons are
released and the higher the voltage created by the generator. More coils of wire will
create more voltage. If your generator isn't producing electricity, try more coils of wire
and ensure that the wire isn't broken or shorting out because of poor insulation.

Other Ideas and Tips

If you want to make a generator that will work well with a drill, consider using Plexiglas
for the generator box. It will be physically stronger and will show the spinning magnets
better. For more advanced science projects, the nail can be replaced with an axle that
connects to fan blades to make a wind generator.

Making a Generator from an Electric Motor

An old electric motor may be usable as a generator. An electric motor consists of coils
of wire around a spinning magnet. In an electric motor, electricity is passed through
the coils, which causes the magnets to spin. The spinning magnets and the axle
provided power to whatever device used the motor. If you take the motor out of the
device and spin the axle, it becomes a generator. If you prefer not to make your own
generator mechanism, some interesting wind power experiments could be made using
fan blades and an electric motor.

How to Build a Wind Turbine for Kids

RELATED

Homemade Windmills for Electricity

Updated April 24, 2017

By Brett Smith

Building a model windmill can be a great, cheap and simple way to show kids how
wind energy can be used to power anything electrical. A standard industrial wind
turbine generates electricity when wind hits a propeller blades, turning an attached
rotor. The rotor is attached to a shaft that spins a generator, making electricity. Any
model wind turbine must also have these components: propeller blades, a rotor and a
generator.
Making the Turbine

Remove the bladed disc from your desk fan by taking apart the fan with a screwdriver.
This will serve as the propeller blades for the turbine.

Adhere the shaft from motor to the rotational center of the bladed disc from the fan,
using superglue. This setup will serve as the propeller blades, rotor and generator.
The DC motor can function as a generator, since it has the magnets and wire coil
arrangement found in standard generators.

Secure the motor to the microphone stand with duct tape in a way that allows the
propeller blades of the turbine to rotate freely.

Wire the turbine to the LED bulb, using the alligator clip leads if necessary, completing
the electrical circuit. The wind turbine is now ready to provide electricity to the tiny
bulb with the first gust of wind.

Different Ways to Make Electricity

Electric power generation is typically a two-step process in which heat boils water; the
energy from the steam turns a turbine, which in turn spins a generator, creating
electricity. The motion of steam produces kinetic energy, the energy of moving
objects. You also get this energy from falling water. It is directly proportional to the
speed of the moving body – the faster it moves, the greater the energy. Electricity is
produced when kinetic energy turns copper coils (or wire) within the turbine.

Dynamos and Generators

A key part of most electric power plants is the generator, a device that turns rotary
motion into electricity. Inside the generator, coils of copper wire spin inside a strong
magnetic field. As the coils move, the magnetic field creates the flow of alternating
current (AC) electricity inside the wire. The source of the rotary motion, whether a
windmill, a turbine, or a diesel motor, doesn't matter; it just has to be strong enough to
turn the generator. The dynamo, a "cousin" of the generator, works in much the same
way; however, it produces direct current (DC).

Electricity from Steam

A steam power plant (or generator) produces electricity by burning fuels, including
biomass, coal or petroleum. Steam generated from the process is fed into a turbine.
The copper armature (wire) in the generator turns with the rotation of the turbine,
producing an electric current. An example of a steam power plant is the Big Bend
Power Station located in Tampa, Florida.
Hydroelectric Power: Falling Water

Electricity that is generated from water is called hydroelectricity. Falling water rotate
the blades of a hydroelectric turbine, which in turn moves the copper armature inside
the electric generator to produce electricity. An example of a hydroelectric power plant
is the Great Hoover Dam (located near Las Vegas, U.S.). It has a total of 19 turbines
that produce enough electricity to serve more than 1.3 million people annually.

Windmills: Energy from Wind

A wind power plant rotates the blades of a turbine, which move the copper armature
(that lies within the generator) to generate electricity. Windmills have been utilized in
the past to rotate the wheels of attached mills. Modern windmills turn mechanical
energy (generated from movement) into electrical energy. An example of a wind-
powered electricity plant is the 107 Mega Watt (MW) wind farm located near Lake
Benton, Minnesota.

Solar Power: Energy from Sunshine

Photovoltaic cells utilize the energy of the sunlight to produce electricity. Direct current
(DC) is generated from stationary solar panels (which are made up of photovoltaic
cells) and is commonly used for local applications, including running small-scale
irrigation pumps or to charge battery-powered devices. Commercial scale solar power
plants are steadily gaining popularity with the increase in the price of fossil fuels. They
function by trapping solar energy through large reflectors. The trapped energy is then
directed onto receivers that use various technologies to generate electricity by
powering gas or steam turbines. The Nellis Power Plant is the largest solar power
plant in North America. It is located in the Nellis Air Force Base in Clark County,
Nevada, near Las Vegas. The plant is made up of more than 70,000 photovoltaic solar
panels and its maximum electrical capacity is estimated at 13 megawatts of alternating
current (13 MW AC).

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