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Electricity and Magnetism Connection — Reading Comprehension

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MS-PS2-5

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This comprehensive science passage for grades 6-8 explores the deep connection between electricity and magnetism, beginning with the pivotal experiment by Hans Christian Oersted in 1820. Students will learn how moving electric charges create magnetic fields, and how this discovery laid the foundation for modern electromagnetism. The passage aligns with NGSS standards MS-PS2-3 and MS-PS2-5, and integrates historical context, real-world examples, and clear explanations of mechanisms and systems at work. Academic vocabulary is introduced in context, and a glossary supports deeper understanding. Activities include a multiple-choice quiz, writing prompts, and graphic organizers designed for critical thinking and evidence-based reasoning. Both standard and differentiated (simplified) passage versions are available, each with a Spanish translation. Audio integration supports accessibility for diverse learners. This resource is ideal for science classrooms aiming to build understanding of fundamental forces that shape our technological world.

CONTENT PREVIEW

electromagnet-2 — Diagram of magnetic field around a coiled wire

Electricity and magnetism are two fundamental forces that shape the world around us. In 1820, Hans Christian Oersted observed that a wire carrying an electric current caused a compass needle nearby to move. This experiment revealed a significant scientific relationship: moving electric charges create magnetic effects. The discovery of the connection between electricity and magnetism led to the field of electromagnetism, which has transformed technology and our understanding of physics.

The Mechanism: How Electricity Creates Magnetism

When electric charges flow through a wire, they produce an invisible magnetic field around the wire. This field forms circular patterns centered on the wire, which can be detected using a compass. The direction of the magnetic field depends on the direction of the current. For example, if the current flows north, the magnetic field wraps around the wire following a right-hand rule. The strength of the field increases with the amount of current—doubling the current doubles the magnetic field’s strength. This relationship is foundational in electromagnetism and helps explain how electric motors and generators work.

Applications and Interactions

This connection is used in many everyday devices. In electric motors, current-carrying wires create magnetic fields that interact with permanent magnets, causing the motor to spin. In generators, moving a wire through a magnetic field creates an electric current, the reverse process. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines use strong magnetic fields generated by electric currents to create images of the human body. These examples show how electricity and magnetism interact to produce useful effects in technology and medicine.

Historical and Scientific Significance

Before Oersted’s experiment, electricity and magnetism were thought to be separate forces. The realization that electric current creates a magnetic field was a turning point. It led to the understanding that these forces are two aspects of a single phenomenon, now called electromagnetism. This discovery influenced scientists like Michael Faraday and James Clerk Maxwell, whose work showed that changing magnetic fields can also create electric currents. The connection between electricity and magnetism is fundamental to the operation of power plants, wireless communication, and much of modern technology.

In summary, the relationship between electricity and magnetism demonstrates how different forces in nature can be deeply interconnected. The cause-and-effect chain—electric current producing a magnetic field—forms the basis for many technologies, showing how scientific discovery leads to practical innovation.

Interesting Fact:
Every time you use a speaker or headphones, electromagnetism is at work converting electric signals into sound!

What did Oersted discover in 1820?

An electric current can create a magnetic field.Magnets can create electricity automatically.Electricity and magnetism are not related.Electric current always flows north.

Which device uses the principle that moving a wire through a magnetic field creates electricity?

Electric motorBatteryGeneratorCompass

What happens to the strength of a magnetic field if the electric current in a wire is doubled?

It doubles.It is cut in half.It stays the same.It disappears.

What is the right-hand rule used for?

To predict the direction of a magnetic field around a wire.To measure electric current.To build a battery.To find north with a compass.

What is a magnetic field?

A visible area of light around a magnet.An invisible area of force around a magnet or current-carrying wire.A type of metal.A sound wave.

Which scientist first observed the connection between electricity and magnetism in 1820?

Michael FaradayHans Christian OerstedJames Clerk MaxwellIsaac Newton

Why was Oersted's experiment important for science?

It showed that electric current creates magnetic fields, linking electricity and magnetism.It proved electricity and magnetism are not related.It invented the electric motor.It showed magnets could float.

True or False: Changing a magnetic field can create an electric current.

TrueFalse

True or False: A compass needle moves near a current-carrying wire because of a magnetic field.

TrueFalse

What is one real-world application of electromagnetism mentioned in the passage?

Solar panelsMRI machinesWind turbinesThermometers