[{"_1":2,"_220":-5,"_221":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4},"pages/Activity.page",{"_5":6,"_7":8},"origin","http://mizzen.org","dehydratedState",{"_9":10,"_11":12},"mutations",[],"queries",[13,42],{"_14":15,"_16":17,"_36":37,"_40":41},"dehydratedAt",1756465217424,"state",{"_18":-5,"_19":20,"_21":22,"_23":-5,"_24":25,"_26":25,"_27":25,"_28":-5,"_29":-5,"_30":31,"_32":33,"_34":35},"data","dataUpdateCount",1,"dataUpdatedAt",1756465217408,"error","errorUpdateCount",0,"errorUpdatedAt","fetchFailureCount","fetchFailureReason","fetchMeta","isInvalidated",false,"status","success","fetchStatus","idle","queryKey",[38,39],"activity-collections","featured","queryHash","[\"activity-collections\",\"featured\"]",{"_14":15,"_16":43,"_36":216,"_40":219},{"_18":44,"_19":20,"_21":15,"_23":-5,"_24":25,"_26":25,"_27":25,"_28":-5,"_29":-5,"_30":31,"_32":33,"_34":35},{"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_32":53,"_54":55,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":76,"_77":78,"_79":80,"_91":92,"_122":123,"_124":125,"_133":134,"_141":142,"_164":215,"_70":46},"id","4815e083-c543-4b7c-bc61-3e0c99976f39","createdAt","2025-07-28T19:34:43.413Z","updatedAt","2025-08-13T21:05:56.246Z","title","Electromagnetic Train","PUBLISHED","partner",{"_45":56,"_47":57,"_49":58,"_59":60,"_61":-5,"_62":-5,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":31,"_68":69,"_70":69},"c88be28c-2e2a-4d80-aa06-b82519878e5c","2025-07-28T19:03:42.664Z","2025-08-18T23:50:11.312Z","name","OregonASK","contact","profilePhoto","logo","45754983-6df0-4de1-84a7-73afcd26621d","visible",true,"deleted","slug","oregonask","slugOrId","overview","

Students work in teams to create electromagnetic trains with magnets! They also learn about magnetism.

","duration",60,"gradeFrom",6,"gradeTo",8,"tags",[81,82,83,84,85,86,87,88,89,90],"stem","physics","engineering","science","team building","teamwork","problem solving","collaboration","communication skills","knowledge","heroImage",{"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":94,"_59":95,"_96":-5,"_32":97,"_98":99,"_100":31,"_101":102,"_103":102,"_104":105,"_106":95,"_107":108,"_109":110,"_111":112,"_113":95,"_114":97,"_115":102,"_116":-5,"_117":-5,"_118":119,"_120":121},"c78cf38b-fdff-4a87-8e48-8cc96a4ecbf6","2025-08-05T17:36:09.589Z","hero-image-cjw8k0wl5649q07819twhqwzt","note","ACTIVE","type","FILE","isAttachment","fileUuid","5797b440-9c4f-4fa9-9842-5fa3757aee10","fileS3Key","fileS3Bucket","mizzen-platform-asset-uploads-production","fileName","fileExtension","jpeg","fileMimeType","image/jpeg","fileSize",33691,"legacyFileKey","fileAutoThumbnailStatus","fileAutoThumbnailUuid","linkUrl","thumbnailUuid","fileUrl","https://ucarecdn.com/5797b440-9c4f-4fa9-9842-5fa3757aee10/","thumbnailUrl","https://ucarecdn.com/5797b440-9c4f-4fa9-9842-5fa3757aee10/-/resize/1000x/","template","DEFAULT","categories",[126,129],{"_45":127,"_59":128,"_70":81},"60f1b41b-bc3e-4b54-b4c3-b9e49a519625","STEM Lab: Build, Tinker, Explore",{"_45":130,"_59":131,"_70":132},"d0751edd-5459-41ca-94b0-89953c105eeb","The Natural World","natural-world","learningStandards",[135],{"_45":136,"_47":137,"_49":137,"_59":138,"_139":140},"16fe72be-6351-44cd-b5d5-0acdc5005d82","2025-07-28T19:03:40.574Z","Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)","description","","collections",[143,198],{"_45":144,"_47":145,"_49":145,"_146":147,"_166":167,"_195":-5,"_196":46,"_197":168},"70654d1e-f5c5-4083-9231-f26d074ad27e","2025-07-28T21:53:08.408Z","activity",{"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_32":53,"_54":56,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":76,"_77":78,"_79":148,"_149":150,"_151":152,"_153":154,"_155":140,"_156":140,"_157":158,"_159":140,"_160":140,"_161":140,"_91":93,"_122":123,"_124":162,"_133":163,"_164":165,"_70":46},[81,82,83,84,85,86,87,88,89,90],"learningObjective","

Learn about electromagnetic trains and magnetism.
Work in teams effectively.

","materials","

For the class, prepare:

Copper Wire - 18 gauge (have enough for everyone)
Wire cutters

For each student, prepare:

1 AAA battery
2-4 Neodymium magnets

","preparation","

Have all materials ready and accessible to students.

Review how electricity and magnetism work, and be ready to explain it to your students how an electromagnetic train works:

Electricity and magnetism are linked in a way that scientists do not completely understand.
Each can create the other. If you wrap a copper wire into coils and run an electrical current through it, you will create a magnetic field.
If you rotate a permanent magnet (as opposed to an item that has been magnetized) inside a coil of copper wire, you can create an electrical current.

Safety Note: Neodymium magnets are extremely strong and definitely not for students who put things in their mouths. In fact, this entire project is not for students who still put things in their mouths! They can be difficult to separate because of their strength and will definitely damage electronic devices.

","worksheets","multimedia","steps","

Introduce to students that they will be making electromagnetic trains. Before students begin, please discuss the following questions with students:
- What do you know about magnets?
- How do magnets work?
Instruct students to complete the follow these steps:
- Create your train: Put 2-4 magnets on each end of the train. The magnets need to be placed on the battery with the poles facing opposite directions. Otherwise, the train will not work. (Just hold the magnets so that they push each other away, then stick the battery in between).
- Make your coils. The coils need to be wrapped pretty closely around the train. Wrapping the copper wire around a AAA battery makes nice even coils that are just the right size for the AAA battery plus the magnets. Once you cut the wire it’s kind of challenging to attach another section, so make a big long train track!
- Run your train!
Have a final discussion with students on their thoughts and observations they had during the activity.
To explain to students how their trains work, please go over the following:
- The neodymium magnets on the ends of the battery create a bar magnet with a north pole and a south pole.
- When you put the train inside the coils, it causes an electrical current to flow through the copper wire, which creates a magnetic field in the section of wire coils right around the train car.
- This magnetic field has its own north and south poles, which push the train along the track. You’ll notice that the train will only run one direction because of its magnetic poles.

","examples","versions","variations",[127,130],[136],"facilitationTips",[],"collection",{"_45":168,"_47":145,"_49":169,"_98":170,"_51":171,"_32":53,"_54":56,"_172":173,"_73":174,"_75":76,"_77":78,"_175":-5,"_91":176,"_186":31,"_39":31,"_79":187,"_194":-5,"_68":-5,"_122":123,"_70":168},"5e30872f-d96a-4847-aeaa-89f10026b324","2025-08-05T18:18:43.326Z","MODULE","Make It Move Invention Camp","introduction","The Make it Move Invention Camp curriculum explores transportation, vehicles, and mechanical things that move! These activities explore engineering and invention with hands-on, fun activities that end with the creation of an invention that improves quality of life.",945,"updatedBy",{"_45":177,"_47":178,"_49":178,"_59":179,"_96":-5,"_32":97,"_98":99,"_100":31,"_101":180,"_103":180,"_104":105,"_106":179,"_107":181,"_109":182,"_111":183,"_113":179,"_114":97,"_115":180,"_116":-5,"_117":-5,"_118":184,"_120":185},"5b166690-5a01-4ed9-a4f2-262b09de46a5","2025-08-05T18:18:43.202Z","hero-image-ck8hqn46o8ezb0713f3r2e3ou","df8b70df-e6c9-4e92-9152-08dffb706047","png","image/png",472037,"https://ucarecdn.com/df8b70df-e6c9-4e92-9152-08dffb706047/","https://ucarecdn.com/df8b70df-e6c9-4e92-9152-08dffb706047/-/resize/1000x/","hideListing",[188,83,189,190,191,87,84,192,85,193],"STEM","creativity","design","design thinking","technology","skills development","exploreOrder","order","activityId","collectionId",{"_45":199,"_47":200,"_49":200,"_146":201,"_166":206,"_195":-5,"_196":46,"_197":207},"32c98ea7-9d44-46ae-8127-93b4b27483df","2025-07-28T21:53:08.818Z",{"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_32":53,"_54":56,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":76,"_77":78,"_79":202,"_149":150,"_151":152,"_153":154,"_155":140,"_156":140,"_157":158,"_159":140,"_160":140,"_161":140,"_91":93,"_122":123,"_124":203,"_133":204,"_164":205,"_70":46},[81,82,83,84,85,86,87,88,89,90],[127,130],[136],[],{"_45":207,"_47":200,"_49":208,"_98":209,"_51":210,"_32":211,"_54":212,"_172":213,"_73":-5,"_75":25,"_77":214,"_175":-5,"_91":-5,"_186":31,"_39":31,"_79":-5,"_194":-5,"_68":-5,"_122":123,"_70":207},"1bfc27d9-5e86-43de-a117-e51fbd40e130","2025-08-13T21:06:06.593Z","PLAYLIST","Looking Ahead: Activities to Start 2022","DRAFT","f3c582e9-3453-48bf-a918-5399d6672576","Looking for art, dance, music, SEL or STEM activities — or for physical fitness, team-building games, meditation, yoga and community service projects? This calendar has you covered. You’ll be ready to reconnect with young people of all ages when the new year rolls around with these energizing ice breakers and inspiring hands-on projects.",12,[],[217,46,218],"activities","preview","[\"activities\",\"4815e083-c543-4b7c-bc61-3e0c99976f39\",\"preview\"]","actionData","errors"]

Electromagnetic Train

Electromagnetic Train

Electromagnetic Train

Overview