Episode 410: Preparation for Electromagnetism Topic *suitable for home teaching*

This topic, from the Institute of Physics, develops a formal description of magnetic fields before moving on to electromagnetic forces and induction. The learning episodes follow a fairly standard approach that is similar to the order in which the topics appear in most exam specifications. The three main electrical machines, motor, generator and transformer, are covered at the end so that all the relevant physics will have been covered before they are discussed.

The topics covered are:

Episode 411: Describing magnetic fields

Episode 412: Force on a conductor in a magnetic field

Episode 413: Force on a charged particle (F = Bqv)

Episode 414: Electromagnetic induction, flux and flux linkage

Episode 415: Electric motors

Episode 416: Generators and transformers

The activities in this topic give students the opportunity to:

1. describe the magnetic fields of permanent magnets and current-carrying conductors using lines of flux

2. use the terms flux and flux density in connection with magnetic fields

3. determine the force (magnitude and direction) on a current-carrying conductor in a magnetic field

4. explain the operation of a simple electric motor

5. determine the induced current or emf (magnitude and direction) when there is relative motion between a conductor and a magnetic field

6. explain the operation of a simple generator and a transformer.