Hand-Held Linear Generator - Physics Demonstrations - Hand-Held Linear Generator | Physics Undergraduate Labs

The generator can produce sufficient current to vaporize the filament of low-voltage lamps (#48 or #49, 2.0 V, 0.06 A). While this creates a dramatic demonstration, use #40 lamps for routine demonstrations. If using low-voltage lamps for dramatic effect, have spares available and warn the audience before the bright flash occurs.

Purpose

Demonstrates Faraday's Law by generating visible current through relative motion between a coil and magnet. A hand-held 1364-turn coil oscillated through a radar magnet's poles lights a miniature lamp, with brightness proportional to speed. Designed for audience participation.

Linear generator apparatus: copper coil with clear plastic guard plates on a metal handle mounted to a clamp stand, positioned between the poles of a large black radar magnet on a wooden cart with wheels. A miniature lamp in a base is connected by wires on the left.

Figure 1: The apparatus configured for the moving-magnet method: the coil is clamped vertically on a stand, and the radar magnet on its cart slides back and forth across the coil. The miniature lamp (left) lights when the coil or magnet moves.

6.3 V 0.15 A Miniature Bulb (#40)

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Radio Magnet (Large)

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Hand-Held Coil

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Safety Warnings

Warning: Lamp Burnout Risk

Purpose