Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v4 - SHS 2

Lesson Video

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Performance objectives

• Explain Fleming's Left-Hand Rule.
• Apply the rule to find the direction of force.
• Identify real-life applications in Ghana.

Lesson summary

This lesson introduces the "motor effect"—the fundamental principle that a wire carrying an electric current experiences a force when placed in a magnetic field. This effect is the magic behind almost everything that moves using electricity, from the fan that cools us on a hot afternoon in Accra to the blender used for grinding pepper in the market, and even the starter motor in a `tro-tro`. We will learn a simple but powerful tool, Fleming's Left-Hand Rule, to predict the direction of this force. Understanding this rule is the first step to understanding how electric motors work and their massive impact on our daily lives.

Lesson notes

Part 1: The Motor Effect

When a charge moves, it creates a magnetic field around it. An electric current is simply a flow of many charges. Therefore, a wire carrying an electric current has its own magnetic field.

If you place this current-carrying wire inside another magnetic field (e.g., between the North and South poles of a magnet), the two magnetic fields will interact. On one side of the wire, the fields will add up, creating a stronger magnetic field. On the other side, the fields will oppose each other, creating a weaker magnetic field.

This difference in field strength creates a pressure difference, resulting in a net force that pushes the wire from the stronger field region to the weaker field region. This phenomenon is called the motor effect.

Evaluation guide

• Discuss Fleming's left -hand rule.
• Experiential Learning: Explain Flemings Left-Hand Rule reflecting inclusivity through games and
• mnemonics.
• conceptual