Physics

Electricity & Magnetism Lab in Virtual Reality

Students map magnetic fields in 3D, build an electromagnet and a simple electric motor and wire room-scale lighting circuits, with no risk of electric shock.

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10 experimentsAges 9–182 topics

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How the lab works

A magnetic field is 3D, and here students see it that way

Iron filings on paper show only one slice of the field. In the lab students place compasses anywhere in space, above, below and around the magnet, and see the field lines around them. In the circuit experiments they work at the size of a real room, with no danger.

Topic 1

Magnets and fields

Primary students discover that a magnet has a direction in space, middle schoolers map fields and build an electromagnet, and high schoolers treat current, force and field as vectors.

Primary school

Ages 9–12
Ages 9–12

Compasses around a magnet

Inquiry question
Where does a compass point near a magnet, and why?
What students do
Students place small compasses around a magnet, above and below it too, and rotate the magnet.
Why VR
Compasses that float anywhere in space, not only on the table.

Middle school

Ages 12–15
Ages 12–15

Mapping a magnetic field in 3D

Inquiry question
What does the field look like between two attracting magnets, and between two repelling ones?
What students do
Students place compass probes in space, display field lines and change the distance and direction between the magnets.
Why VR
The whole field is visible in space, not just one slice of it.
Ages 13–15

Electromagnet: how many paper clips?

Inquiry question
How do the number of turns and the current affect an electromagnet's strength?
What students do
Students wind wire around a nail, connect a battery, choose the current and count the clips it picks up.
Why VR
A quick, repeatable experiment, with no batteries heating up and no wire running out.
Ages 13–15

Earth as a magnet

Inquiry question
Where does a compass point near the poles, and why isn't magnetic north geographic north?
What students do
Students attach a compass to different points on a giant globe and compare the needle with the meridian.
Why VR
A room-size globe that students walk around, checking the needle anywhere.

High school

Ages 15–18
Ages 15–17

The field of a current-carrying wire

Inquiry question
What shape is the field around a straight wire, and how does it depend on current direction and distance?
What students do
Students place compasses around a wire, reverse the current and line up a "right-hand rule" arrow held in their hand.
Why VR
The right-hand rule done in 3D, around the wire itself.
Ages 16–18

Building a simple electric motor

Inquiry question
Why does a coil spin in a magnetic field, and why is a commutator needed?
What students do
Students assemble magnets, a coil and a commutator, switch on the current and watch the force arrows on each side.
Why VR
Hands-on assembly, with force arrows that turn together with the coil.
Ages 16–18

Induction: a magnet entering a coil

Inquiry question
When does current appear in a coil, and what sets its size and direction?
What students do
Students push a magnet in and out of a coil at different speeds, swap coils and read the galvanometer.
Why VR
The speed of motion comes from the student's own hand movement.
Topic 2

Circuits and electricity at home

Students build circuits, compare series and parallel connections and wire lighting as in a real home.

Middle school

Ages 13–15
Ages 14–15

Electric circuit — series and parallel

Inquiry question
What happens to the bulbs and the current when they are connected in series and in parallel?
What students do
Students complete a circuit with a battery, switch and bulbs, build series and parallel versions and measure current with an ammeter.
Why VR
Students see the flow of charges visualized and measure anywhere in the circuit, safely.
Ages 13–15

Wiring a room

Inquiry question
Where must the switch go in the circuit to control the bulb?
What students do
Students connect wires between a fuse box, a switch and bulbs in the wall of a life-size room and test what lights up.
Why VR
Working "inside the wall" at room scale, with no risk of shock.
Ages 14–15

The staircase switch

Inquiry question
How can two switches in different places control the same bulb?
What students do
Students wire two two-way switches and test them by walking up and down the stairs.
Why VR
Students move through the space and test the circuit from each end.
FAQ

Electricity & Magnetism Lab

Is there any risk of electric shock?

No. All circuits are virtual, so students can wire, disconnect and make mistakes with no risk at all.

Which ages is the lab for?

Ages 9 to 18. Primary students see how a compass responds to a magnet, middle schoolers map fields, build an electromagnet and wire circuits, and high schoolers work with the right-hand rule, an electric motor and induction.

Why learn magnetism in 3D?

Because the magnetic field fills all the space around the magnet. On paper you see one slice; in the headset students can place compasses anywhere and see the full picture.

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