Subject: Electricity and Magnetism Date: 19 Oct 1998 I plan to go into his class on Oct 28 to get his kids started. We're going to start even a bit more basic than the small cars, with some experiments in electricity and magnetism. Things like: - What does a magnet attract? (Try different materials). - Magnets always have two poles. How do they attract/repel each other? (Like poles repel, opposites attract). - Make a compass from a magnet on a thread, or floating in a bowl. (Aha, the earth must be a big magnet) - The idea of a closed circuit (electric or magnetic). (Current is strongest when the circuit is completed). - Series and parallel; volts and amps. - Making batteries (anything acidic and dis-similar metals) (which combinations work best?) - Making an electromagnet (electricity and magnetism are related) (Wind insulated wire on something you can pick up with a magnet) - Current in a wire affects a compass (and how)? - How does a motor work? Lee Hart