Didactic device to aid in understanding and teaching about electromagnetic fields and their effects

摘要

According to principles of the invention, an educational device is provided for investigating and teaching about electromagnetic fields. The device includes a pair of toroid magnets each having a north pole and a south pole. As is known, a toroid magnet is generally doughnut- shaped with a hole in the middle; one side is north, the other south. The toroid magnets are held together by a magnet support member. The magnets are positioned with their holes aligned to form a common passageway. Like magnetic poles face each other so that the magnets of the pair repel each other. An electrically conductive, metallic, L-shaped rod extends through the common passageway formed by both holes of the pair of toroid magnets. A rod support member is coupled to the base of the rod in a manner to permit the rod to pivot about its base. When the L-shaped rod is suspended in a stationary position and an electromagnetic field is brought sufficiently adjacent the rod to interact with the magnetic field of the rod, the rod deflects based on the position, strength, orientation, field, and other features of the electromagnetic field. A student is thus able to study magnetic fields, electromagnetic forces, and their interaction through use of this device. The device is simple to construct and simple to operate so that it is an excellent tool to provide hands-on experience to aid in understanding electromagnetic forces in nature.