Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

I want to find out which magnet generates the most voltage using a simple generator, and have the strongest magnetic field: Neodymium or Ceramic?
What can I do to expand my project? What can help improve my project?
Thank you

For a given size, a neodymium magnet will be stronger than a ceramic one, and should give you more power from your generator at the same rotation speed.

Since I don't exactly what you've done I'm not sure I can suggest a way of improving it. If you want to expand it and morph it into something bigger, you might consider attaching a water wheel to it and making a waterfall out of a milk jug (catching the water in a plastic bucket). You'd be making a model of a hydroelectric generator of the sort used in Niagara Falls and other places where naturally falling water is used for power.

A windmill? For a display you can use a fan to drive a windmill connected to your generator, but imagine if it were outside and the power came from the wind.

I can also imagine a gerbil or mouse in a wheel connected to your generator, and the power generated by the wheel motion is used to power a pellet dispenser that gives it snacks for running. The water wheel or windmill seem more dignified though.

Howard

This year, I am doing my project on the strength of magnets depending on how much voltage they produce on a simple generator (enameled copper wire and magnets) and how strong their magnetic field is. I'm using Ceramic magnets, Dollarama magnets and neodymium magnets.
I know that Neodymium is stronger, but what can I add to my project?
Does shape affect the magnetic field?
How do you meausure the magnetic field?
Please anwer Asap.
Thank you

A device for measuring the strength of a magnetic field is called a magnetometer or a gaussmeter. You can buy them in a number of places on the internet, or make one yourself (http://www.coolmagnetman.com/magmeter.htm).

A hydroelectric plant uses the energy of falling water to turn a turbine connected to your generator. This is sort of how it works (http://energybc.ca/images/profiles/larg ... iagram.png) except you won't be using energy to pump the water back up to the top. Build your generator, attach a water wheel to it (http://sullivanswaterwheels.com/images/ ... prings.JPG) and position a milk jug above the wheel. Make a hole in the jug, attach some tubing to the hole and let water flow onto the wheel and turn the generator. If you use the generator power to light an LED, visitors to your table at the fair can see if you stop the flow of water, the LED goes out.

That sort of thing.

Thankyou very much Howard.
And in addition to this, what can I do to further expand this project?
Thanks again.

You're only limited by your imagination. You made a thing that generates electricity if you can make it spin. Attach to a hamster wheel and power a pellet dispenser to give your hamster treats for running on the wheel. Or if it puts out enough power, can it charge your cell phone?

If you temporarily put aside the fact that it takes energy to turn the generator, what would be very cool to do with power that's free and never needs batteries or has to be plugged in? What attracted yo to building a generator in the first place? Maybe thinking about that will help you visualize a really fun application for it.

Howard

Thankyou, Howard.
Unfortunately our science fair committee does not allow animals of any sort.
I got this idea in class when we were asked to make an hydro electric generator(coil and magnet generator powered by water or wind)
To participate in the science fair, I want to extend this project.
But about the "charging cell phone"
My neodymium generator only produces 2 volts (enough voltage to light up 2 small LEDs)
If I add some more magnets (ceramic), can it charge a cellphone?
Please reply ASAP
Thanks again

I have decided to make a simple hydro/wind generator. I know alot about my topic, but I would love to receive your advice on how I can make this into a great experiment. I really look forward to you telling me how I can make this into an experiment!
Thank you very much,
Victoria
(Please reply ASAP because I only have another day!)
thanks again!

It's been a while since I've made one, but I think that more coils will give you a higher voltage. You still have to make sure you have enough current though.

Hydro is water and wind is air -you want to pick one and build that. Engineering projects tend to be difficult to make into experiments, but the basis of an experiment is that you have a question you want answered, a hypothesis of what you think will happen when you change something, and independent/dependent variables. What could you change to see an effect?

Either wind or water could make for a very fun display. If your hydro or wind generator could power the lights in a small model town, might you set up a little village with buildings and put lights in the buildings that you can power from your generator? I'm sure you can come up with ways of making this an experiment and making the presentation awesome. Send us pictures of your project and tell us how it went by emailing us at [email protected]. We'll save a spot in our blog for you!

Is it possible to compare neodymiun magnets and ceramic magnets? (Although the result is VERY obvious)
Do you have any ideas of constants and variables I can include? (I cannot think of any )
Please help me asap
thank you

Of course you can compare the magnets scientifically. Take samples of each type, making sure they are the same size, or same weight, or the same in some measurable way. See how strong they are on a meter, or how many paperclips/bolts they can pick up. A magnet that can list 5 paperclips is stronger than one that can lift 3. Between testing one type and another, keep everything else the same - the size of the paperclips, for example. If you swap out the magnet type in your generator and spin it at the same rate, do you get more voltage? More current? You must get more of *something* if you use a stronger magnet.

I'm certain that if you think about it, you can think of experiments that will demonstrate that one type of magnet is stronger. You said it was obvious - how did you know that? When you devise your experiment, you change one thing, watch for one result and keep everything else the same. So yes, I think you CAN think of some.

Thank you for your suggestions.
What I have now decided to do is:
Use the generator and see how much voltage/resistance/current Neodymium and Ceramic magnets make and compare them.
After that, I will use ceramic
Then I will do some magnetism test ( https://www.google.ca/url?sa=i&rct=j&q= ... 7065598221
I really appreciate your help and please give me some of your opinions on how to improve my project.
Thanks again!

Hello Howard,
I just want to know about your opinions/suggestions on my experiment?
Thanks,
Victoria

That method of testing magnetic strength is fine if you feel it speaks to you. Another common one is to get a pile of paperclips or steel bolts and see how many each of the magnet types can hold up if you stick them end to end. I'm sure there are many others. I hadn't heard of the one you found but it seems fine.

Just be careful to keep as many things the same between trials as possible. Use the same car and make sure the magnets weigh the same. Run each magnet arrangement at least three times - more if the distance measurements are very different from each other.

Howard

OK. Thankyou very much.
Since this project is due tomorrow, I need to hurry!
Now I'm conducting tests with the generator to find our the voltage each magnet produces.
I have also reviewed Faraday Lenz's law.
I really truly appreciate all your help. If I need any more help, I will surely contact you.
Thanks again