Names Karen Chau

Rebecca
Zach
Christina
Science Period: 5
Language A Period: 6
TITLE:
Electrical Energy Battery & Compass
QUESTION:
How does the electric current of a battery affect the needle of a compass?
HYPOTHESIS:
If the battery is held over the compass then the needle will follow the wire because the compass is attracted to
metal, and the battery produces magnetic energy.
OBSERVATIONS AND DATA:
Battery Over: The needle followed the positive side.
Battery Under: The needle followed the positive side.
Conclusion:
We reject our hypothesis because we said the needle would follow the wire, instead it followed the
positive side of the battery, which disproves our hypothesis. The electric current cause the compass to move
towards the positive current. The relationship between magnetism and electricity is that the battery has an
electric field which pulls things toward the positive side of it, similar to a magnet. We observed that the needle in
the compass was attracted to the north end of the battery, the positive side.
SUMMARY OF STATION ARTICLE:
In the What Was Happening article it explained how energy was being used and transformed when we
did our three experiments. In the battery and compass lab, the article says that when we clipped the ends of the
wire to the battery holder, an electric current was produced which made a magnetic field. When we moved the
battery over the compass, the needle started to move because the compass is a magnet and it was attracting
and repelling the electromagnet current in the battery produced. In the motor and battery lab, the electricity flows
through the wire and creates a magnetic field. It acts as a magnet, and when you put the same end with the
same end they repel. When the magnets repel, it changes electrical energy to mechanical energy causing the
motor to spin. In the last lab Motors and Generators, kinetic energy from a person is used to produce electricity.
When you turn the handle a magnet inside the flashlight produce an electric current inside the coils of wire which
makes an electric current that lights the bulb.
REAL WORLD APPLICATION:
You can use this information in the real world if you were to work in a power plant or with wind turbines. You can
also just use it as basic information about how batteries and compasses work.
STATION REPORT SUMMARY
Report Response

Go to Person

Present the Question

If we hold a battery, will an electrical current over a compass, what will be the affect?

Zach Cammer

Presentation: What did you do?

Karen Chau
In this experiment, we placed a battery over a compass to see what the affect of the
battery was. We discovered that the battery causes the needle of the compass to follow
towards it positive end. This was caused by the magnetic field of the battery, and since
the compass is magnetic, the needle moves towards the battery.

What were the energy transformations?

The energy transformations in this experiment were potential to electrical to
kinetic. Before we had made an electrical magnet with the battery, the compasss
needle was at a still state. When we created the electrical magnet, electrical
energy was formed. When we placed the battery over the compass, it started
moving, and that was kinetic energy.

Rebecca Dickson

Explain what was happening at your station.

Christina Helgeson
In our station we were testing to see how the battery affected the compasses needle,
and if it mattered if the compass was above or below the battery. We found that the
compasses needle followed the positive side, or positive electrical current, when it was
below and above the battery. The negative energy repelled the current, and the positive
attracted it, making the needle spine towards the positive side. The wires attached to
the sides of the compass did not affect the results of the experiment.
Additional Information