- All wires carrying an electric current have a magnetic field around them. Straight wires have a weak magnetic field around them. The strength of the magnetic field can be increased by coiling the wire around an iron core (nail). The iron nail becomes magnetized and will attract other objects made from magnetic materials. Unlike a "permanent" magnet, the magnetic force leaves when the electrical current is stopped.
- In this lab, you will construct an electromagnet and then observe its characteristics.
MATERIALS NEEDED:1 meter of 18-gauge insulated wire
6-volt battery
Long iron nail
Paper clips
Wire strippersPROCEDURE:
Wrap the wire tightly around the nail. leaving about 15 cm of free wire on each end (see drawing).
Strip about 3 cm of the insulation off both ends of the wire, using wire strippers.
Secure one end of the wire to one pole of the battery.
Scatter some paper clips on the table.Hold the nail over the paper clips. Touch the paper clips with the nail. What is happening?While holding the nail close to the paper clips, touch the free end of the wire to the other battery pole. Touch the paper clips with the nail now. What happened this time?While keeping both ends of the wire on the battery, lift the nail. Again, what observation can you make? Are paper clips being picked up by the nail?While holding the nail up with paper clips on it, remove the wire end you are holding from the battery. What happened?CAUTION: Keeping the current flowing through your electromagnet for a long period of time may cause the nail and wires to get hot. Simply disconnect from the battery and let it cool
Save your electromagnet for further investigations.
Back to Grade School Table of Contents
Back to Lab Dad's Laboratory
- In this lab, you will construct an electromagnet and then observe its characteristics.
CONSTRUCTING AN
ELECTROMAGNET
INTRODUCTION: