PURPOSE: To demonstrate that current-carrying coils produce magnetic fields and interact like bar magnets.
DESCRIPTION: Two coils are aligned with their currents moving around in the same direction, so their magnet fields will be North-to-South. They will attract each other when the current is started by pushing the switch. Changing the wires on th e top can put any combination of magnetic poles adjacent, getting either attraction or repulsion. A small bar magnet, included with the demonstration, can be used to see the forces between one of the coils and the magnet, again using any combination of m agnetic poles.
SUGGESTIONS:
EQUIPMENT: Mounted setup of two coils, battery with capacitor for current boost, switch, and bar magnet.
SETUP TIME: None.
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