KS3

How to generate electricity

Part of PhysicsElectricity

How is electricity generated?

Video: Generating electricity

This video can not be played

To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.

A two-minute video showing how to generate electricity by spinning a magnet in a coil of wire.

Question

What bathroom appliance have scientists discovered can generate electricity?

Practical experiment - Generate electricity

Follow this step-by-step slideshow.

Skip image gallery

Image caption,
WHAT YOU NEED: stationery to make a small box, cardboard, insulated wire, wire cutters and sandpaper, an LED bulb and strong ceramic bar magnets.
Image caption,
STEP 1 - MAKE BOX: Cut and fold the box...
Image caption,
...then secure it with sticky tape.
Image caption,
STEP 2 - PUSH NAIL: Carefully make a hole and push the nail through the middle of the box and out through the other side.
Image caption,
STEP 3 - WRAP WIRE: Put a pen through the spool of copper wire to help you unspool it...
Image caption,
...and wrap the wire at least 250 times around either side of the nail.
Image caption,
STEP 4 - CONNECT LED: Cut the wire to leave two loose ends. Using the sandpaper, scrape away the insulation on the last few centimetres of the wire, then tightly wrap each end around a leg on the LED bulb.
Image caption,
STEP 5 - ADD MAGNETS: Attach the magnets either side of the nail, making sure they spin freely like a wheel.
Image caption,
STEP 6 - SPIN TO LIGHT: Spin the magnets as quickly as you can and you’ll see the bulb light up. The moving magnetic field from the spinning magnets induces a current in the coil of wire. You have made your own electricity generator!

Video: Student journal

This video can not be played

To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.

More on Electricity

Find out more by working through a topic

Static electricity
count
3 of 11
Electricity sparks and shocks
count
4 of 11
Conductors and insulators
count
5 of 11
Introduction to circuits
count
6 of 11