Oerstedt discovers electromagnetism
  • 1. In the early 19th century, Hans Christian Oersted, a Danish physicist, made a groundbreaking discovery that would lay the foundation for the field of electromagnetism. On April 21, 1820, during a lecture demonstrating the effects of electric currents, Oersted noticed that a compass needle deflected from magnetic north when an electric current passed through a nearby wire. This observation was revolutionary; it illustrated the intimate relationship between electricity and magnetism, previously thought to be unrelated phenomena. Oersted's experiment showed that an electric current can produce a magnetic field, effectively linking the two forces in a unified theory. This pivotal moment not only marked the discovery of electromagnetism but also inspired future scientists, such as André-Marie Ampère and Michael Faraday, to further explore and expand upon this new understanding of physics. Oersted's work sparked a wave of research in the newly emerging field and ultimately led to the development of numerous technologies that harness the principles of electromagnetism, including electric motors, generators, and telecommunication systems, forever altering the landscape of science and engineering.

    What year did Hans Christian Oersted discover electromagnetism?
A) 1945
B) 1752
C) 1901
D) 1820
  • 2. What type of field was Oersted studying when he discovered electromagnetism?
A) Heat field
B) Electric field
C) Magnetic field
D) Gravitational field
  • 3. In Oersted's experiment, what did he observe when he passed an electric current through a wire near a compass needle?
A) The needle spun around
B) The needle deflected
C) The needle heated up
D) The needle did nothing
  • 4. What does the discovery of electromagnetism describe?
A) The discovery of the electric charge
B) The relationship between electricity and magnetism
C) The invention of the light bulb
D) The discovery of radio waves
  • 5. Which scientist developed the first electromagnet following Oersted's discovery?
A) Albert Einstein
B) Marie Curie
C) Isaac Newton
D) William Sturgeon
  • 6. Oersted's discovery laid the foundation for the development of which technology?
A) Electric motors
B) Steam engines
C) Automobiles
D) Telegraph machines
  • 7. What scientific principle underlies the operation of electric generators?
A) Quantum mechanics
B) Nuclear fission
C) Special relativity
D) Electromagnetic induction
  • 8. What university did Oersted teach at when he made his electromagnetism discovery?
A) University of Paris
B) University of Copenhagen
C) Harvard University
D) Oxford University
  • 9. What material did Oersted pass an electric current through in his experiment with the compass needle?
A) Wire
B) Glass
C) Rubber
D) Wood
  • 10. Oersted's discovery united which two fields of study?
A) Chemistry and biology
B) Electricity and magnetism
C) Astrophysics and geology
D) Psychology and sociology
  • 11. Who later developed the mathematical formulation for electromagnetism?
A) Albert Michelson
B) Erwin Schrödinger
C) Max Planck
D) James Clerk Maxwell
  • 12. Oersted's discovery led to the concept of a magnetic field being produced by what?
A) Electric current
B) Gravity
C) Static charge
D) Radio waves
  • 13. What was Hans Christian Oersted's nationality?
A) Danish
B) Swedish
C) French
D) German
  • 14. Which of the following materials can be easily magnetized?
A) Iron
B) Rubber
C) Plastic
D) Paper
  • 15. What property of a material determines how easily it can be magnetized?
A) Color
B) Hardness
C) Permeability
D) Density
  • 16. What electromechanical device is used to transmit electrical energy between two or more circuits through electromagnetic induction?
A) Transformer
B) Diode
C) Capacitor
D) Resistor
  • 17. What is the process called when an electric current flows through a conductor in the presence of a magnetic field resulting in a force on the conductor?
A) Lorentz force
B) Hooke's law
C) Bohr effect
D) Bernoulli's principle
Created with That Quiz — the site for test creation and grading in math and other subjects.