Building an Electromagnet.
1/08/23
Aim: To make an electromagnet
For this class or unit, we’re focusing on electricity. Today we created an electromagnet and our aim was to pick up a paper clip using the magnet we created.
Research
Here’s a video to help unpack the process of creating an electromagnet. I hope this was simple and helpful enough for you to understand!
Method & Equipment,
- Big nail
- Wires with alligator clips
- Variable resistor
- Power Supply
- paperclips
- sellotape
Method
- Wrap one wire around the nail as much as possible, and sellotape it so that it doesn’t unroll. This is the electromagnet.
- Connect the power supply in series to the variable resistor and the electromagnet.
- Change the voltage on the power supply, and the resistance on the variable resistor so that the electromagnet works.
- Pick up some paperclips.
- Take a photo of everything for your results.
Results,
Discussion:
- How many paperclips did you pick up? We were only give one paper clip so by default, only one.
- Is that a strong magnet? It was strong enough for us to succeed our Aim which was to pick up a paper clip with the battery.
- How could you make a stronger electromagnet? There are a few ways on how to make a stronger electromagnet. You can either Increase the number of coil turns, increase the current flowing through the coil. Wrap the coil tightly around the iron piece or Increase the current or voltage. (Reference Byju’s)
- What happens when you turn the power supply off? Then the magnet wont work. No power = No effect.
- How do electromagnets work? The electromagnets consist of coils of wires with passing electricity from the battery or power source. So When the coils of wire in an electromagnet have some electricity through them, they become magnet like. (Reference: Northeastern Uni)
- How do electric motors work? An electric motor is a device used to convert electricity into mechanical energy—opposite to an electric generator. Applied when an electric current is present in a magnetic field, this force creates a torque on a loop of wire present in the magnetic field, which causes the motor to spin and perform useful work. (Reference Energy Education)