Lab 4: Magnetic Fields and the Earth
Name: Date:
Procedure:
1. On your laptop, go to
https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/cheerpj/faraday/latest/faraday.html? simulation=magnets-
and-electromagnets
2. When the app loads, what do you notice?
When the app loads, you begin with a compass and a bar magnet, along with two tabs up at
the top that say “electromagnet” and “bar magnet.”
3. Deselect all the options from the menu to the right. You should see just the bar magnet
as shown below:
4. Make a prediction: On the diagram above, draw what you think the magnetic
field produced by the magnet will look like.
, 5. Check your prediction by selecting the “show field” tab. Were you correct? Sort of. The
magnetic field extends from the north pole and wraps around to the south pole. The
lines are stronger near the poles and weaker farther away.
6. Make a prediction: If you were to chop this magnet in half and separate the pieces,
what would be the polarity of each piece? Why?
If you were to cut this magnet into pieces, each piece would then form a dipole magnet with a
north and south pole. The reasoning behind this is because magnetic monopoles don’t
exist in nature. The cutting just creates smaller magnets with the same field pattern.
7. Deselect “Show Field”.
8. Make a prediction: If you place a compass near the magnet, what will the compass
do? Why?
Depending on where the compass is by the magnet, it will change directions and fluctuate.
9. Select “Show Compass”. Move the compass to several positions around the
magnet. What do you notice?
Name: Date:
Procedure:
1. On your laptop, go to
https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/cheerpj/faraday/latest/faraday.html? simulation=magnets-
and-electromagnets
2. When the app loads, what do you notice?
When the app loads, you begin with a compass and a bar magnet, along with two tabs up at
the top that say “electromagnet” and “bar magnet.”
3. Deselect all the options from the menu to the right. You should see just the bar magnet
as shown below:
4. Make a prediction: On the diagram above, draw what you think the magnetic
field produced by the magnet will look like.
, 5. Check your prediction by selecting the “show field” tab. Were you correct? Sort of. The
magnetic field extends from the north pole and wraps around to the south pole. The
lines are stronger near the poles and weaker farther away.
6. Make a prediction: If you were to chop this magnet in half and separate the pieces,
what would be the polarity of each piece? Why?
If you were to cut this magnet into pieces, each piece would then form a dipole magnet with a
north and south pole. The reasoning behind this is because magnetic monopoles don’t
exist in nature. The cutting just creates smaller magnets with the same field pattern.
7. Deselect “Show Field”.
8. Make a prediction: If you place a compass near the magnet, what will the compass
do? Why?
Depending on where the compass is by the magnet, it will change directions and fluctuate.
9. Select “Show Compass”. Move the compass to several positions around the
magnet. What do you notice?
