Alberta PhysicsSource - Forces and Fields

Physics 30: Forces and Fields

How to use this PhysicsSource resource page:

Occasionally, you will find instructions in Pearson Physics that direct you to the PhysicsSource website. This page has been developed so that you can quickly and efficiently reach safe, reliable, and continuously updated resources.

All the resources are correlated to the Pearson Physics pages for your convenience - you may simply scroll this page to find the relevant page number.

How to narrow your search:

To offer you a greater selection of resources, this page has many supplementary resources that are not directly referred to in Pearson Physics. You can differentiate between text-recommended essential and supplementary resources whenever you see the yellow highlighted colour code:

If you would like this page to display only text-recommended essential resources, click the "List Essential Resources Only" button in the "Narrow Your Search" menu to the right.

Third-Party Link Disclaimer

This site includes links to third-party websites, which are listed as "eWEBs". While Pearson endeavours to ensure the appropriateness of these websites, monitors them regularly (three links deep), and substitutes links to different third-party websites when necessary, Pearson cannot be held responsible for the content of these websites. If you discover any inappropriate links on this website, please contact the webmaster immediately.

Resource Type	Text Pages		Chapter 10 Resources Resource Description T - For Teachers S - For Students	Browser Plug-in
	508	S	Faraday Cage - just stay inside, and you'll be safe! How Does a Faraday Cage Work? - answer from an expert. Faraday Cage - an encyclopedia of information. The Invention of Faraday Cage - has many interesting links.
	511	S	Van de Graaff Generators - how they work and what you can do with them: Van de Graaff generators in the classroom - a good discussion of theory, and excellent safety advice. How Van de Graaff Generators Work - all the details here! History of the Van de Graaff Generator - very cool old pictures. Van de Graaff Electrostatic Generator Page - covers everything you could want to know about VDGs, including how to make your own.
	512	S	History of Electricity - some of it is shocking! The History of Electricity - very brief but good overview. A Brief Chronological History of Great Discoveries in Electricity - almost more brief than the title! Energy Story: Resistance and Static Electricity - has good historical information. William Gilbert - who was William Gilbert?
	513-515	S	Electrostatics - from ancient experiments to modern theory: What is Electricity? - clear explanation of electricity basics. Part of the Energy Story site. Static Electricity - a good explanation of static electricity, with suggestions for experiments too. What is Static Electricity? - a clear explanation; it includes some projects too. Static Electricity - if you would like a challenge, here is a much more detailed description of how static electricity works. How Electricity Works - goes much further than just static, great site! Electrostatics - a good introduction and two illustrated demonstrations.
	515-516	T S	Semiconductors and Superconductors - moving electricity, but how efficiently? Conduction - a very good explanation of why substances conduct - part of the interesting "Transistorized!" site at PBS. How Semiconductors Work - clear explanations of different forms of semiconductors. What is superconductivity? - it's a good question; here's a good answer. Superconductivity Basics - looks like more than the basics to me! A Teacher's Guide to Superconductivity - many good experiments. Superconductors.org - a whole website devoted to superconductors. Superconductivity - leaves no superconducting stone unturned!
	517	T S	Investigating Charges - use a charge sensor to perform several electrostatic charge investigations.
	517-521	S	Methods of Charging - visa, mastercard, american express... no, not those methods! Static Electricity - use the menu on the left to explore several lessons on charging. Triboelectric Effect - explaining the nuances of contact electrfication. Charging by Electrostatic Induction - animations help the explanations. Charging by Induction: Testing Experiment - a great movie does the experiment for you, all you have to do is tackle the questions.
	522	S	Lightning - fascinating, beautiful, dangerous: Lightning - a well-organized page that explains all the aspects of lightning. How Lightning Works - all your answers are here! Lightning: FAQ - a huge selection of interesting lightning questions and answers. Global Hydrology and Climate Center: Lightning and Atmoshperic Electricity Research - the leading authority on electricity in the atmosphere. National Lightning Safety Institute - the leading authority on lightning safety. Lightning Kills, Play It Safe - make sure you read the survivor stories - absolutely fascinating! Lightning: An Example of a Natural Capacitor - how charges build up and interact in a storm, nice little java animation.
	523	S	Section 10.1 Quiz
	524	S	Coulomb's Law - calculating the force between charged objects: Charles-Augustin de Coulomb - who was Charles Coulomb? Coulomb's Law - every electrical interaction involves a force, let's calculate it. Electric Charge and Coulomb's Law - a lot of information in a concise site.
	528	T S	Determining Coloumb's Constant - determine Coulomb’s constant using a Force vs. Separation graph for two like charges.
	528	T S	Inverse Square Law - explore the inverse square law through a simulation using a sphere of uniform charge density.
	538	S	Section 10.2 Quiz
	541	S	Chapter 10 Review Quiz

Resource Type	Text Pages		Chapter 11 Resources Resource Description T - For Teachers S - For Students	Browser Plug-in
	542	S	St. Elmo's Fire - not the bad 1985 movie, the interesting electrical phenomenon: The Fire Of St. Elmo - has historical and literary references about St. Elmo's fire, and an explanation of the phenomenon. St. Elmo's Fire - what is it? See also the page on coronal discharge. What causes the strange glow known as St. Elmo's Fire? - answer from an expert.
	544-547	S	Fields - a three-dimensional region of influence surrounding an object. Electric Field Lines - excellent lesson on electric fields. Field (physics) - what is a field (physics)? Field theory explained. Motion of a Test Charge - a small applet to play with, does a good job of showing field influence. Electric Field and the Movement of Charge - the concept of electric field and the movement of charge explained here. About Electromagnetic Fields - good compilation page, be sure to check out extensive list of typical electric field strengths of household objects, and of electric fields in the environment.
	549	T S	Comparison of Electric and Gravitational Fields - explore the similarities and differences of electric and gravitational fields exerted by a charged object.
	553	S	Section 11.1 Quiz
	554	S	Electric Field Simulations - try these two simulators: Electric Field Point Charge - simulates the electric field and the equipotential lines (Curves) accompanying an electric point charge. Electric Field Two Charges - simulates the electric field and the equipotential lines (Curves) accompanying two electric point charges.
	554	T S	PhET Interactive Simulations - an extensive suite of interactive simulations, all expertly crafted to support student studies. These high-quality simulations are created at the University of Colorado and are completely free to use: Electric Field Hockey - what could be more Canadian than playing hockey with electric flied lines? Charges and Fields - move point charges and observe the resulting electric fields. Electric Field of Dreams - see what happens to charges in an electric field.
	558	S	Ink Jet Printers - how do they work? How Inkjet Printers Work - wow, an excellent explanation of what's behind ink jet function. Ink Jet Printers - a thorough discussion of how they function.
	559	T	Defibrillators - save many lives: Automated External Defibrillator - explains how they work. See also the page on other types of defibrillators. Defibrillator - don't miss this one! Fantastic explanation and videos in this multi-page article. Implantable Cardioverter-defibrillator - a defribillator that goes with you everywhere.
	559	S	Faraday's Ice Pail Experiment - check out these explanations: Faraday’s "Ice Pail" Experiment - the experiment step by step using diagrams and explanations. Shells and Conductors: Faraday's Ice Pail Experiment - conclusions that can be drawn from it and a brief self-quiz. Electrostatics at home - this is a good overview of the concept from its history, first experiments, Coulomb's law, and a good section on Faraday's ice pail experiment.
	560	S	Van de Graaff Generators - how they work and what you can do with them: Van de Graaff generators in the classroom - a good discussion of theory, and excellent safety advice. How Van de Graaff Generators Work - all the details here! History of the Van de Graaff Generator - very cool old pictures. Van de Graaff Electrostatic Generator Page - covers everything you could want to know about VDGs, including how to make your own.
	560-565	S	Electric Potential and Potential Energy - coulombs, joules, volts; making sense of it all: Electric Energy and Potential - what electric potential is, with an example. Electric Potential and Potential Energy - a brief but good discussion of both. Electric Potential Difference - introduction, the gravitational analogy revisited and electric potential in circuits. A good explanatory site. Electric Potential Energy - electric potential energy explained. Electrical Energy and Electrical Potential - two completely different things that sound alike!
	567	S	Capacitors in Cameras and Other Technology - say cheese! How Camera Flashes Work - clearly explains the role of oscillator and capacitor. Capacitors : Devices for Storing Charge - an introduction to parallel plate capacitors.
	569	S	Section 11.2 Quiz
	576	S	Section 11.3 Quiz
	579	S	Chapter 11 Review

Resource Type	Text Pages		Chapter 12 Resources Resource Description T - For Teachers S - For Students	Browser Plug-in
	580	S	Auroras - beautiful lights in the sky: Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) - all about the northern lights from what they are, to history and mythology associated with them and research done on them. How does the aurora borealis (the Northern Lights) work? - clear and concise explanation. CARISMA - magnetic monitoring for across Canada, processed in Edmonton! Northern Lights Images - some beautiful photos can be seen here: Site 1, Site 2, Site 3.
	585	T S	Magnetic Field Intensity - how does magnetic field intensity vary with distance from a magnet? Try this lab to find out.
	585	T S	PhET Interactive Simulations - an extensive suite of interactive simulations, all expertly crafted to support student studies. These high-quality simulations are created at the University of Colorado and are completely free to use: Magnet and Compass - explore the Earth's magnetic field.
	585-586	S	Magnetic Fields - the interesting field surronding a magnet: Magnetism and Magnetic Fields - a simple introduction. Magnetic Field - an encyclopedia of information. Earth's Magnetic Field - an encyclopedia of information. The Frog That Learned to Fly - and now for something completely different - magnetic levitation of a frog.
	587	S	The Cause of Magnetism and Electromagnets - that fantastic force that can lift a train: Electromagnetism - all about Oersted's discovery, electricity causes magnetism. History of Magnetism and Electricity - an excellent site on all the major discoveries made including Oersted. Oersted's Experiment - Oersted's compass wire experiment, with an interactive applet. Magnetism - the concept explained with colour diagrams and the first, second and third right hand rules are introduced. How Electromagnets Work - perfect pages explain electromagnets in detail.
	588	T S	PhET Interactive Simulations - an extensive suite of interactive simulations, all expertly crafted to support student studies. These high-quality simulations are created at the University of Colorado and are completely free to use: Magnets and Electromagnets - have fun exploring magnetic interactions.
	589	S	Magnetizing Objects - definitions of the different types: Ferromagnetism - the "normal" form of magnetism. Antiferromagnetism - those crazy spinning electrons! Paramagnetism - only when an external magnetic field is applied. Diamagnetism - changes in orbiting electrons. Diamagnetic Levitation - impress (or just freak out) your friends!
	591	S	Earth's Magnetic Field - fascinating, but is it fading? Magnetic Storm - all kinds of information on the reversal of Earth's magnetic field from possible impact on animals to periods in history when it happened. Also contains a simulated flip of the magnetic field. Magneticosphere: Earth's Magnetic Field - covers the basics and much more.
	592	S	Section 12.1 Quiz
	596	T S	Charged Particle in a Magnetic Field - simulates the motion of a charged particle in a uniform magnetic field. This applet now also available in a flash version.
	597	S	Van Allen Belts - captive high energy particles: What is the Van Allen Belt? - a student's question is answered at NASA's site. Van Allen Radiation Belt - an encyclopedia of information. Radiation Belts - its discovery and more.
	601	S	Section 12.2 Quiz
	608-609	S	Electric Motors and More - electromagnetic interactions make motors possible: How Electric Motors Work - a fantastic set of pages including animations that clearly explain motor function. How Does an Electric Motor Work? - a simple graphic that explains motor function. Faraday's Magnetic Field Induction Experiment - drag that magnet and see what happens!
	609-611	S	Generators - Faraday changed the world: Faraday's Electromagnetic Induction Experiment - discover electromagnetic induction along with Faraday. How the Generator Works - discusses power plants, and at the bottom of the page, generator function is diagrammed. Part of the Energy Story site. AC Generator Action - play with an AC generator and learn how it functions. DC Generator Action - play with a DC generator and learn how it functions.
	611	T S	PhET Interactive Simulations - an extensive suite of interactive simulations, all expertly crafted to support student studies. These high-quality simulations are created at the University of Colorado and are completely free to use: Generator - discover and investigate electromagnetic induction. Faraday's Electromagnetic Lab - learn about Faraday's law. Faraday's Law - wave the magnet and see what happens!
	610	T S	Electromagnetic Induction - investigate how electicity is generated with this lab.
	613	S	Section 12.3 Quiz
	614	S	Old and New Technologies - magnets are used in many useful technologies: How A Speaker Works - a very cool java applet. How Speakers Work - lots of information and good instructive photos. Magnetohydrodynamics - very cool fluid and magnet technology. Physlink.com - How Does a Transformer Work? How Does a Transformer Work - part of the Energy Story site. How a Transformer Works - play with these coils to find out how transformers work.
	619	S	Lenz's Law - more than just falling magnets down tubes: Lenz's Law - an introduction to the concept. Faraday's Law and Lenz's Law - good schematics really these explanations. Lenz's Law - an interactive applet demonstrates how Lenz's law works. Eddy Current - the eddy current and its many uses, including coin detection in vending machines.
	620	S	Section 12.4 Quiz
	623	S	Chapter 12 Review Quiz
	631	S	Unit 6 Review Quiz

Physics 30: Forces and Fields

How to use this PhysicsSource resource page:

How to narrow your search:

Third-Party Link Disclaimer

Chapter 10 Resources

Chapter 11 Resources

Chapter 12 Resources