UNIT OVERVIEW

In earlier lessons, you learned about electrostatics — how stationary charges create electric fields. Now you will discover something important: when charges move, they create a magnetic field. This connection between electricity and magnetism is called electromagnetism.

Electromagnetism is the foundation of many devices you use every day — from phone chargers to power stations.

What You Will Learn

• How electric current creates a magnetic field around a conductor
• The right-hand rule for finding magnetic field direction
• How solenoids create strong magnetic fields like bar magnets
• Faraday's Law: how changing magnetic fields create electric currents
• Lenz's Law: why induced currents oppose the change that causes them
• Applications including generators and transformers

Key Applications

• Power generation: Eskom power stations use electromagnetic induction to generate electricity
• Transformers: Step voltage up for transmission, then down for home use
• Electric motors: Convert electrical energy to motion
• Induction stoves: Heat pans using induced currents
• Wireless charging: Transfer energy without physical contact

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