The purpose of this lab was to explore the connection between magnetic and electric fields using a laboratory procedure with the hypothesis of “If a magnetic or electric field is present, materials that generate these fields will interact by attracting or repelling each other because of their magnetic or electric properties.” We followed many different procedures for the data to conclude if the hypothesis was supported by the data collection or rejected. To understand the steps my partner and I took in this lab, here is the summary of our lab.

Question

Part/Procedure 1. students will first explore then map a magnetic field using bar magnets, a compass, and iron filings
Part/Procedure 2. students will investigate the concept of charge and demonstrate the interactions of electric fields.
Part/Procedure 3. students will examine how magnetic fields can generate an electric current.
Part/Procedure 4. students will demonstrate how electric current can generate magnetic fields
Section ll: Data and Observations

Part l: Demonstrating and Describing Magnetic Fields

For the first step we gathered all of our materials we would need for the whole of the lab, made sure we read over the directions, and followed the safety rules; By pulling out hair back and putting our safety goggles on, ensuring we would have our sight, skin, and hair protected.

During our second step of our procedure we took a magnet to our given materials that included; paper clips, wooden pencil, plastic ruler, aluminum can/wire (we chose the can), metal stapler. We tested to see if a magnetic interaction was made with our materials and determined whether or not our materials were magnetic. We concluded that all of our materials had a magnetic interaction with the bar magnets except for the plastic ruler and wooden pencil. Even our bar magnets with like poles had a magnetic interaction but in their case they repelled. With our metal stapler our observations were a bit weird, our north side had little reaction while the south pole of the magnet had a strong interaction.

In step 3 my partner and I used two bar magnets and a handheld compass to check the polarity of the magnets. In A and B we took our bar magnets and put them north pole to south pole to test the magnetic connection they had, which they attracted with a strong interaction. Then reversed one magnet to make them so north and north were touching, which led to them repelling far from each other due to being like poles. Then in the second part of C and D, we used our compass in different spots and various ranges from the bar magnet to find a pattern in the direction the north pole on the compass was making. In the end we found the pattern showed magnetic field lines(as seen in figure one if the student lab guide).

Next in step 4 with the materials given we explored then mapped a magnetic field using bar magnets, a compass, and iron filings. We placed down our blank piece of sheet on our flat surface, grabbed our bar magnet and set that over the top of the blank sheet of paper, and sprinkled our iron filings over our bar magnet. After waiting for a moment we looked at our paper and there was a pattern that was made with the disturbance of the magnetic fields. We put our observations and sketch(as seen in figure two of the student lab guide) into our data table.

Part ll: Demonstrating and Describing
In step five we observe an electric field caused by static charges, by listening to the following directions. We blow up two balloons and tie them off, then rub one balloon on one of our heads for ten seconds vigorously,taking the charged side to the thin running water to find a reaction. We recorded our data in the table given. The water stream from the faucet had moved towards the balloon that was statically charged. For the last part in the step we had to recharge the balloon and set it on the wall, then observe the reaction given while putting it down in our data table. The balloon had attracted to the wall with a slight electric interaction caused static electricity.

Following step 6 of our lab. For this part we have to take both balloons from our previous step and charge them on our heads, then put them together and observe the reaction given. Which was they repelled from each other. This step was very quick and easy.

In step 7, we charge our balloon as used in the past two steps, and move it around a handheld, and see if the magnetic charge made a detectable magnetic field around the balloon used. The results were disappointing. The compass did not change direction whatsoever, leaving us with a no on making a detectable magnetic field.

During step 8 we will use a galvanometer which is a device that detects electric currents. Doing so by detecting the magnetic field generated as current flows through a wire. We took some wire and wrapped it a few times around our compass leaving about 3 and a half inches extra on each side, then securing the wire with a couple pieces of tape. Then with another section of wire, my partner and I wrapped it around a wooden pencil. Taking the extra length on each side of the compass we twisted it together combining both the compass and the wooden pencils wiring. Making sure to have magnetic north point to wire loops of the compass. We then proceeded to take the pencil out and replace it with a bar magnet, moving it from left to right, making it move to magnetic west. Then taking the magnetic bar and moving it right to left, leaving it pointing to magnetic east. When my partner and I moved the magnet to a stationary position in the coil making it move to magnetic NW. After taking in our results we took the bar magnet out and replaced it with our wooden pencil and repeated our actions. In turn getting no results nor changes in the lab.

Then in step 9 we ran into problems of not having the right materials or just not having them at all, so we skipped step 9.

Next in step 10, we apply the relationship between electric current and magnetism to make an electromagnet. We took a normal screwdriver with no magnetic current and moved it closer to some paper clips to see if it attracted towards the given materials. The results with the paper clips were without a current there was no magnetic connection and with a current there was a magnetic attraction. We then repeated the experiment but with a wooden pencil. The results were different, when trying without a current there was no attraction and with a current there still was no attraction.

Finally the last step, step 11. My partner and I disassembled all of the materials we used according to the teacher's instructions. We cleaned up and wiped down our tables.

Section III: Analysis and Discussion
We did not use any important calculations or formulas for this procedure. My partner and I figured out that if there is a magnetic current then there will be an interaction with other materials that are ferromagnetic or paramagnetic. Materials like plastic rulers and wooden pencils did not have a magnetic current occur at any time during our experiment. All of the graphs that my partner and I collected are seen on the attached student guide. We only had one complication in the experiment. The given light bulb had blown. So we were unable to do step 9 in the experiment for physical science.

with this information was our hypothesis supported or refuted?

Answer 1

Based on the data and observations collected in this lab, it can be concluded that the hypothesis that states, "If a magnetic or electric field is present, materials that generate these fields will interact by attracting or repelling each other because of their magnetic or electric properties," is supported. Throughout the lab, we observed interactions between magnetic fields and materials such as bar magnets, iron filings, paper clips, and compasses. We also observed interactions between static charges and the movement of water, as well as repulsion between charged balloons. Additionally, we observed the generation of an electric current when a magnetic field was present, and the generation of a magnetic field when an electric current was present. These observations support the idea that materials with magnetic or electric properties will interact with each other when magnetic or electric fields are present. Overall, the data collected in this lab supports the hypothesis that was proposed.