Electric current and magnetic fields are two sides of the same coin
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Bernard Nebel.
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With a piece of wire, a flashlight battery, and compass, conduct the experiment described in text. (I hope that one of you will post a video of doing this with your kids. In the meantime, apart from being overly complex, here is a video:
Let the result impress on students that electric currents and magnetic fields are related. If they are related, should a magnetic field cause an electric current? Here is a test: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epiyE35BjTA
Have students ponder this relationship between electric current and magnetic fields. Why should it occur?
In fact, it is still a mystery. Apparently, magnetic fields and electric currents are two aspects of the same “beast”. Not understanding the why, however, has not prevented making use of the principle. Let students speculate as to how this principle might be used. Then proceed with investigation of some of the many devices engineers/technicians have developed and are still developing that make use of the basic principle (see below).
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