The Solenoid Invention Kit
A solenoid is a coil of conductive wire that generates a magnetic field when electric current flows through it. This discovery made many other inventions possible, including the telegraph, the telephone, electric motors, radio, television, computers, and smart phones. Because the solenoid contains the foundational scientific principles that led to so many other inventions, we selected it as the first invention in the FabNet Invention Kit series. Students will discover, explore, and interact with these principles while following in the footsteps of these early inventors.
Teacher Guide
The teacher guide contains lesson plans for each kit and activity. In addition, materials, sourcing, tools, and CAD files for fabricating the kits are also included.
Go to Teacher GuideUnit Sequence
| Activities | Essential Questions |
|---|---|
| Lab: Exploring Magnetism | What are the properties of magnetism? |
| Lab: Investigating Conductivity | What are the properties of electricity? |
| Make: Building a Continuity Tester | |
| Lab: Detecting Magnetic Fields | What is the relationship between electricity and magnetism? |
| Lab: Exploring Electromagnetism | What are the properties of an electromagnet? |
| Make: Building a Solenoid | |
| Lab: Investigating Solenoids | what are the realtionships between solenoids and modern-day inventions? |
Key Concepts & Skills
Concepts
- Magnetism
- Conductivity
- Electricity
- Electromagnetism
Skills
- Computer-Aided Design (CAD)
- Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM)
- Soldering
- Scientific Observations
- Journaling