Day 24:

Day 24:

Experiment #1

We used this board apparatus today, it was already set up for us. there are resistors, capacitors and a solenoid attached to it along with posts for our equipment. We connected these to a function generator and used the voltage probe to record voltage and current.

I vs V:

Our frequency 20 Hz. When we used higher frequencies, we got closer data to that of our theoretical calculations.

Day 23:

Day 23:

 Activity #1 ActivPhysics

Experiment #1 Inductance

We used a solenoid, an oscilloscope and a function generator with a resistor to observe the graph and played with the settings until it matched the graph we had observed last week.

The graph is behaves like an exponential function. There is a period of charging and a period of discharging, and this is our comparison to that cycle when talking about capacitors. 

We calculated the inductance, L.

Day 22:

Experiment #1 

Day 21:

Day 21:

Experiment #1 Measuring Earth Magnetic Field

The slope of this graph represents the magnetic field of  the earth. From the fit equation we determined that the earth magnetic field is 10.5 micro-Tesla.  The actual value is 25 to 65 micro-Tesla, and ourexperimental value is lower than the real value because of atmospheric considerations, such as the fact that we did our experiment inside a steel building.

Activity #2 Solenoid

We calculated the magnetic field of a solenoid, basically a very coiled conductor.

The calculated vs. the experimental value of the magnetic field is off by 0.04mT. 

Day 20:

Magnetic motors and magnetic fields

Experitment #1:

Attaching the power supply to the motor caused it to spin, and reversing the current's direction causes it to spin in the opposite direction.

Magnetic Motor:

The motor that our group created was composed of copper wire, several magnets and paperclips, and a power supply. A symmetrical oval shape was formed from the wire. One lead was sanded down 360 degrees while the other lead was sanded down half that amount. The paper clips were used as mounting points for the copper wire and placed on the top of the cup, and a magnet was placed inbetween the contraption as shown above. The current from the power supply is what moves the current through the wire and causes it to turn.

Day 19:

Day 19:

Experiment #1 Field Directions

This demonstration illustrated the field waves around the "poles" of the magnet.

From this picture we found out that magnetic field lines come radiate, without intersecting, from one side of the pole into the other side of the pole.

We indicated the direction of the compass' point in several different locations around the magnet. From these lines, we found out that magnetic field lines go from the north pole into the south pole. So, a compass will point in the direction of the magnetic field lines.

Experiment #2 Magnetic Field, Force, and Velocity

In this demonstration, we used a rod, rails, and a power supply and predicted the directed the rod would roll.

Then we calculated the magnetic force.

Day18:

Day18:

Activity #1: Amplifier

With this diagram as a blueprint to make an amplifier, we arranged our own capacitors and resistors and wires and connected them to an oscilloscope.

The resultant waves illustrates how the voltage is being amplified- the function on top is before amplification and the function on the bottom is after amplification. The bottom function has a noticeably larger amplitude.

Activity #2: AnotherAmplifier

This is an amplifier circuit arranged to amplify sound waves.

We used our phones to test the amplifier, which worked. The sound quality was actually quite good, but still imperfect.