One day back in 1974, I was searching through the equipment storage area, where I found these intriguing-looking solenoids, current balances, and electron tubes sitting in the storeroom all covered with dust, obviously unused for some time, calling out to me to be used in some experiment. Eventually I decided to drag out those dusty coils and tubes. I had my students do two experiments from the PSSC Laboratory Manual (1968 edition)1 called “The Measurement of a Magnetic Field in Fundamental Units,” and its companion experiment, “The Mass of the Electron.”

Topics
Electromagnetic coils, Education, Laboratory manuals
1.
Physical Science Study Committee, PSSC Laboratory Guide, 2nd ed. (D.C. Heath and Co., 1966).
2.
See
A.
McAlexander
, “
PSSC turbo ring flinger
,”
Phys. Teach.
43
,
613
(Dec.
2005
) for an excellent illustration of the solenoid coil in action.
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3.
These tubes, or a suitable substitute, are available on the Internet for about $15 or $20. For example, see Antique Electric Supply; http://www.tubesandmore.com.
4.
PASCO scientific, CI-6520A Magnetic Field Sensor.
5.
Distance = [(x1 − x2)2 + (y1 − y2)2]1/2.
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© 2006 American Association of Physics Teachers.
2006
American Association of Physics Teachers
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