C

This week we introduced electrical engineering.  We started off the class with a lesson about static electricity, electrons, and how lightning occurs.  Then we gave each pair a styrofoam plate, an aluminum pie plate, a pencil, tape, and a piece of wool.  Each group taped a pencil to the aluminum plate and rubbed the styrofoam plate against the wool or his or her head. After a minute one partner dropped the aluminum plate (holding it with the pencil) onto the styrofoam plate, creating static electricity.  Touching the plates created sparks.

Next, we had each pair create an electromagnet using two batteries, copper wire, and an iron nail.  We wrapped the wire around the nail and touched the ends of the wire to the batteries to magnetize the nail. The nail could pick up paper clips and the wire heated up a lot.