PASCO EM-8642A Magnetic Force Accessory - Manual (Page 10)

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M a g n e t ic D e m o n s t r a t io n S y s t e m D e m o n s t r a t i o n 2 : M a g n e t i c F o r c e o n a C u r -
6
Demonstration 2: Magnetic Force on a Current-Carrying
Wire Swing
*The PASCO Hand-held Mini Generator (SE-8645) can be used as the power source instead of the DC power supply.
Use the swing assembly and pole pieces with the Variable Gap Magnet and a power supply to demonstrate the
magnetic force on a current-carrying wire.
Setup
1. Slide the mounting rod onto a support rod and tighten the
thumbscrew at the end of the mounting rod to hold it in place.
2. Plug the swing assembly into the two holes in the mounting
rod from the underside of the rod.
3. Place the Variable Gap Magnet on its end with the pole pieces
attached so the magnetic field between the pole pieces is ver-
tical. Adjust the gap between the pole pieces and the position
of the magnet so that the horizontal part of the swing is cen-
tered between the pole pieces and can move back-and-forth.
4. Connect a power supply or a hand-crank generator to the top
part of the holes in the mounting rod.
Procedure
1. Turn on the power supply and adjust the current so that the
swing moves forward or backward.
• The direction that the swing will move depends on the direc-
tion of the current and the orientation of the magnetic field.
2. Reverse the position of the patch cords on the mounting rod.
The swing should move in the opposite direction.
• You can also demonstrate the dependence of the direction of
the swing movement on the direction of the current if you
include a double-pole, double-throw switch (DPDT) in the
circuit.
• NOTE: It is possible to use the SE-8645 Mini Generator as
the power source in this demonstration. It is easy to reverse
the current by simply reversing the direction that the Mini
Generator is cranked.
Equipment Needed Equipment Needed
Variable Gap Magnet (EM-8618) Large Base and Rod (ME-9355)
Magnetic Force Accessory (EM-8642A) Patch Cord, 2 (SE-9750)
12 V DC Power Supply (SE-9720A)* (Mini Generator (SE-8645) – optional)
Figure: Demo Setup
Swing
assembly
Patch cords
to power
supply
The
current-carrying
swing moves
due to the
magnetic force.
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