References:

Here is a rare attempt to describe how, over the course of more than a century, our understanding of electricity and magnetism slowly developed (published by the electrical engineering professional society). But even this account gets ahead of itself by invoking concepts and information that did not exist at the time (such as the much later discovery of electrons):

The Long Road to Maxwell’s Equations, IEEE Spectrum, December 2014 (link / cached copy)

 

Electric Fields:

YouTube movies of pith ball demonstrations:

Quick looks (un-narrated, but one using live cat fur):

A more complete demonstration from Carleton College (edited to enhance image/sound quality)

My "Virtual Lab" computer animated explanations of Pith Ball experiments

Exploiting the powers of virtual reality to "see" invisible / microscopic charge movement

Snapshots from "Pith Ball Basics" (LINK to full X-ray vision animation):
Reality	vs.	Virtual Reality
Snapshots from "Pith Ball Ping Pong" (LINK to full X-ray vision animation):
Reality	vs.	Virtual Reality

Magnetic Fields:

My classroom demonstrations:

1) The effect of magnets upon metals:

Do magnets attract ALL metals?

Demonstrating the importance of containing iron (or iron-like metals = "ferromagnetics"). But also how, despite containing 98-99% iron, the magnetism of steels can still be extinguished by adding certain trace metals.

 

2) The effect of magnets upon magnets, compasses & iron filings:

Yielding "Magnetic Fields" which, unlike Electric Fields, do NOT map forces!

This "3D Magnetic Field Demonstrator" was purchased from Pasco Scientific (www.pasco.com - P/N SE-8603)

 

Electro-magnetism:

3) The effect of electrical current upon a compass:

Oersted's lecture hall accident - and Ampere's explanation thereof.

An entirely home-built demonstration.

 

Magnetic Induction:

4 & 5) Magnetic vs. non-magnetic balls falling through long copper pipes:

A recipe for defying gravity?

Single Copper Pipe:	Copper Pipe + Plastic Pipe on a Spring Balance:
This "Lenz Law Apparatus" was purchased from American Scientific (www.american-scientific.com - P/N AR-105)	This "Lenz Law" apparatus was purchased from The Science Source (www.thesciencesource.com - P/N 32520)

 

6 & 7) A long cylindrical magnet falling through short copper pipe:

Which parts of the magnet slow its fall?

Explanation of the apparatus:	Drop Tests 1 & 2 (at full speed & half speed):

Calculated magnet velocity in Drop Test 1:	Calculated magnet velocity in Drop Test 2:

- Original high resolution 60 fps Quicktime movies providing times & frame numbers (links for Drop Test 1 / Drop Test 2)

- Excel spreadsheet with raw data for both tests + finite difference calculation of velocities & accelerations (link)

 

8) HOW Magnetic Induction PLUS Electro-magnetism ALMOST defied gravity:

9) The effect of moving magnets upon "non-magnetic" aluminum shapes:

The basis of technologies ranging from "brushless motors" to magnetically levitated trains!

 

We Can Figure This Out. Org's movie studio (a.k.a., my basement wood/metal shop):

 

The use of magnetic induction to sort non-magnetic metals:

From the American Recycling Center:

(original link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCurq7PjCvPBx4zZ6v0i0wGw)

 

Copyright: John C. Bean (WeCanFigureThisOut.org)