Electricity: Magnetic and Heating Effects: common misconceptions

If your child says… “The wire turns the needle even with the switch off.”

Ask together

What happens when we disconnect the cell without moving the wire?

What’s true

The copper wire's magnetic effect requires current.

If your child says… “It keeps pulling because the wire is still wound up.”

Ask together

When we disconnect, does the winding change or does the current stop?

What’s true

Winding copper wire alone does not make an electromagnet.

If your child says… “An electromagnet's strength cannot change.”

Ask together

With the coil and compass unmoved, what changes when we increase the current?

What’s true

Changing current or coil turns can change magnetic strength.

If your child says… “A north pole attracts another north pole.”

Ask together

Which pole must face the needle's north end to attract it?

What’s true

A coil end attracting a compass's north pole is south.

If your child says… “Heat travels from the electricity supply through the lead.”

Ask together

If heat arrived ready-made through the lead, why would the kettle need a heating element?

What’s true

Heat forms in the kettle's element as current passes through it.

If your child says… “Running it longer makes no difference to the heat produced.”

Ask together

While current keeps flowing, does electrical energy stop becoming heat?

What’s true

With steady current, the same wire produces more total heat over a longer time.

If your child says… “The cell contains ready-made electricity that pours out.”

Ask together

If reactions supply energy, what happens when the chemicals they need are used up?

What’s true

The cell supplies energy through chemical reactions.

If your child says… “I can recharge a used-up zinc-carbon cell.”

Ask together

Which of these was designed for repeated charging?

What’s true

Only batteries designed for recharging should be charged.