Faraday’s Ring: A Moment of Current
On August 29, 1831, Michael Faraday tested an iron ring wrapped with wire. He connected a battery to one coil of wire and watched a needle attached to a second coil. The needle jumped, then settled back. Something had happened in the second wire, even though it was not connected to the battery.
Faraday was working at the Royal Institution in London, England. Scientists already knew that an electric current—a flow of electric charge—could create a magnetic field around a wire. Faraday wondered whether magnetism could also produce an electric current. His ring experiment helped him find an answer.
Two coils and one ring
Faraday wound two separate coils of insulated wire around an iron ring. The coils did not touch each other electrically. He connected one coil to a battery and the other to a device with a needle that could show a current.
When Faraday connected the battery, current began flowing through the first coil. The needle on the device connected to the second coil moved briefly. But as the current in the first coil continued to flow, the needle returned to its resting position. When Faraday disconnected the battery, the needle jumped again, this time in the opposite direction.
- insulated:
- Covered with material that prevents electricity from passing through it easily.
- device:
- A tool or piece of equipment made for a particular purpose.
- collapse:
- To fall away or disappear.
- evidence:
- Facts or observations that help show whether an idea is true.
- principle:
- A basic idea or rule that explains how something works.
- voltage:
- A measure of the push that can make electric charge move.
One passage, many ways to practice
Reading-skill questions, word work and writing prompts — all built from this text.
Main Idea
Identify the central idea and explain how important details develop it.
Context Clues
Use clues in the passage to work out what words mean. A separate printable Vocabulary worksheet is also available.
Summarize
Select, organize, and restate the most important information without adding opinion.
Purpose
Analyze what the author aims to do and how choices serve audience and purpose.
Structure
Analyze how sections and organizational choices build the text's ideas or effects.
Vocabulary
Practice words from the passage with a printable worksheet.
Writing Prompts
Use the passage as a springboard for short written responses, from personal reflection to evidence-based arguments.
Fix the Sentence
Practice editing sentences drawn from this passage with a printable worksheet.
Ready to use this passage in class?
Start free with the Mixed worksheet and 3 PDF downloads each week. Focused skill sets depend on plan.
Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1What is the main idea of the article, and which two examples show why it matters?
- 2How did the needle behave when Faraday connected and then disconnected the battery?
You Might Also Like
About this explanatory article passage for Upper Elementary
“Faraday’s Ring: A Moment of Current” is a explanatory article reading passage about Electromagnetic induction, written for Upper Elementary. It takes about 3 minutes to read (492 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.