Colegio de la Inmaculada Concepcion
Tipolo, Mandaue City
Subject : Science and Technology Unit :2
Grade : 10 Laboratory Activity No:2.4
Name:_________________________________Date:_____________________Score:__________
Grade and Section: _________________ LT no. __________Parent’s Signature:________________
ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM: WHAT’S THE CONNECTION?
By the end of the 18th century, scientists had noticed many electrical phenomena
and many magnetic phenomena, but most believed that these were distinct forces. For
instance, it has long been discovered that magnets are governed by the law of
electromotive force – like charges repel, opposite charges attract. The north pole attracts
the south pole of another magnet. We can visualize this phenomenon through its magnetic
field, the region of space that surrounds the magnet.
The magnetic field lines of a bar magnet are always pointed from north to south pole. That’s why like poles, repel
and opposite poles attract. Retrieved from: https://ece.northeastern.edu/fac-ece/nian/mom/work.html
Electricity, on the other hand, is the flow of electrical charge. We know for the fact that
atoms are the source of this electrical charge. Atoms consist of protons and neutrons, glued
together by a strong nuclear force, while the electrons are orbit around it. The electrons in the
shells closest to the nucleus have a strong force of attraction to the protons. Sometimes, the
electrons in the outermost shells do not. These electrons can be pushed out of their orbits.
Applying a force can make them move from one atom to another. These moving electrons are
electricity.
Many have thought that electricity and magnetism are both separate entities. However,
it was not until 1820 that the relationship between these two was first unraveled, through the
discovery of Hans Christian Oersted, a Danish Physicist. To understand his discovery, let us do the
next activity.
VIRTUAL SIMULATION: OERSTED’S DISCOVERY
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Visit this link,
https://javalab.org/en/oersteds_experiment_en/
2. The interphase of the virtual simulation should look like this:
Guide Questions:
3. Follow the instructions given to you before you answer the
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guide questions that follow.
1. Turn on the circuit by clicking on the switch button. What have you noticed about the
direction of the compass needle? Write your observation below.
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2. Turn off the circuit by clicking the switch again. This time, reverse the polarity of the
battery by clicking it. You will notice that the batteries connection will be reversed. Turn
on the switch once again. What have you noticed about the direction of the compass
needle? Write your observation below.
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3. Change the position of the compass this time. Click the compass button below the
circuit to place the compass underneath the wire. Turn on the switch once again. What
have you noticed about the direction of the compass needle? Write your observation
below.
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4. Do items 1-3 to verify your results. Based from your observation, what can you infer
about the shape of the magnetic field produced by a current-carrying conductor?
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5. Based from this virtual simulation, what can you conclude about Oersted’s discovery?
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