ELECTROMAGNETS
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Electromagnets are a part of our modern life. Most electric devices like stereo speakers, computers, and fans
function because of electromagnets. Electromagnets can even be used to lift very heavy objects. How do
electromagnets work? In this investigation, you will examine the scientific blunder that led to the discovery
of electromagnets, the energy transformation that electromagnets enable, and several ways to control
electromagnetic strength.
Objective
When you have completed this investigation, you should be able to investigate electromagnets in order to
describe how electromagnets produce magnetic fields.
Materials(per group)
1 box of paper clips
iron nails
compass
2 D cell battery holders
2 D cell batteries (1.5 V)
electrical wire, 1m
magnet
switch
Procedure
Activity 1
1. Take the magnet and the compass. Hold them about 30 cm apart.
2. Slowly move the compass closer to the magnet. Record your observations. Repeat if necessary.
When the compass was brought close, the _________ part of the
needle was attracted to the magnet.
When the magnet was flipped the pointer reversed itself.
Activity 2
3. Construct a simple circuit using the provided materials. (Just a cell wired to a switch) Leave the switch
open.
4. Place the compass near the circuit. Record your observations in the left half of Figure 1, “Compass
Observations.” (Draw the compass needle.)
5. Close the switch. Record your observations in the right half of Figure 1, “Compass Observations.”
FIGURE 1
COMPASS OBSERVATIONS
OPEN
CLOSED
N
N
W
E
S
W
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E
S
6. Explain the movement of the compass needle after the wire was connected to the circuit. Use prior
knowledge about the effects of magnets on compass needles to support your answer.
The compass needle moved when brought near the electric circuit.
Compasses are affected by magnetic fields. Therefore, the circuit
must be producing a magnetic field.
The observations you just made represent one of the biggest blunders in the history of science.
However, this blunder has revolutionized technology and enabled scientists to develop devices that
convert electrical energy into mechanical energy.
7. Read the passage, “Oersted’s Surprise.”
OERSTED’S SURPRISE
Many of the greatest scientific discoveries have been lucky accidents. Electromagnetism was one
of those. During a lecture in the year 1819, Hans Oersted had a compass sitting next to a wire.
When Oersted completed the circuit by connecting the wire to a battery, the direction that the
needle was pointing changed. This indicated that the electricity flowing through the wire had
created a magnetic field. When he stopped the flow of electricity, the compass needle returned to
its original position. Although most scientists are pleased by these unexpected discoveries, Hans
Oersted was not. His lecture that day was supposed to
Figure 1
demonstrate that electricity and magnetism have absolutely
Solenoid
nothing to do with each other.
André Ampere followed up on this discovery and found that
two parallel wires carrying electric currents running the same
direction attracted each other. This observation led to the
creation of a solenoid or coil as shown in Figure 1. In the
solenoid, the magnetic field created by a loop of wire carrying
an electric current joins together with the magnetic fields from
other coils of wire to create more powerful magnetic force.
This magnetic field only lasts as long as the electric current is
flowing through the coils of wire.
It has been found that the overall strength of the field could be further amplified by inserting a ferrous
(iron containing) core into the center of the wire loops. This increased field strength occurs because
the domains inside the metal core temporarily align with the magnetic field produced by the currents
flowing through the wire coils. The magnetic field from the ferrous core joins with the magnetic field
created by the wire loops surrounding the core. This combination can be used to create very strong
magnets that can be turned on or off instantly, called electromagnets. Electromagnets can be used to
lift heavy objects such as automobiles or scrap metal. They are also used to support the weight of
Mag-lev trains like the super fast Yamanashi Maglev Test Line in Japan.
8. Reread “Oersted’s Surprise.” Highlight information related to how electricity flowing through a wire
can be used to move objects and how that force can be controlled.
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9. Explain why a compass needle moves when it is placed next to an electrical circuit. Use information
from the reading to support your response.
A compass needle will move when it comes near any
magnetic field. The compass moved when put next to the
electric circuit. Therefore, the electric circuit must
produce a magnetic field.
10. Predict how altering the number of coils of wire wrapped around the core will impact the strength of
an electromagnet. Justify your response using information from the reading.
If the number of coils wrapped around the core is increased, then
the strength of the electromagnet will ______________ because
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
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Problem Question: How does the number of coils of wire wrapped around a core affect the strength of the
electromagnet?
11. Underline the independent variable and circle the dependent variable in the problem question above.
Activity 3
12. Read the procedure for building a ten-coil electromagnet.
BUILDING AN ELECTROMAGNET
A. Strip the plastic covering from the two ends of the wire.
B. Make ten tight wraps around the middle of the nail, starting 10 centimeters from the end of the
wire.
C. Place the D cell battery in the battery holder. Attach the first terminal of the battery to a
switch.
D. Attach one end of the wire to the switch and the other end of the wire to the second battery
terminal.
Caution: Do not leave the switch closed for more than fifteen seconds at a time. The wires
may become very hot.
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13. Reread the procedures. Highlight the verbs in each step.
14. Construct a ten-coil electromagnet.
Activity 4
15. Read “Testing the Strength of an Electromagnet.”
TESTING THE STRENGTH OF AN ELECTROMAGNET
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
Place the paper clips in a small pile on the table.
Complete the circuit containing the electromagnet by closing the switch.
Place the tip of the electromagnet into the pile of paper clips.
Remove the electromagnet from the pile.
Count the number of paper clips adhering to the end of the electromagnet. Open the switch.
Record the data in the appropriate space in Chart 1, “Effect of the Number of Coils on
Number of Paper Clips Lifted by the Electromagnet.”
G. Repeat steps A-F using electromagnets constructed with 20, 35, and 50 coils.
16. Reread the procedures. Highlight the verbs in each step.
17. Complete the procedures.
CHART 1
EFFECT OF THE NUMBER OF COILS
ON THE NUMBER OF PAPER CLIPS LIFTED BY THE ELECTROMAGNET
10
NUMBER OF PAPER
CLIPS LIFTED BY
MAGNET
2
20
3
35
5
50
8
NUMBER OF COILS
18. Review your prediction for # 10. Explain how the data generated by the investigation supports or
refutes your prediction.
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My prediction was shown to be (correct/incorrect). I
predicted that…
It was shown that as the number of coils increased, the
strength of the electromagnet increased. As the
number of coils increased, the number of paper clips
lifted increased.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Analysis
1. Draw and label a simple electromagnet. Be sure to label the coil, core, wires, and battery.
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2. Explain how this investigation showed that a flowing electric current creates a magnetic field, even
though Hans Oersted thought that they were not related. Support your explanation using details from the
investigation.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
3. Explain how an electromagnet illustrates that energy can be converted or transformed from one energy
form to another. Support your explanation using details from the investigation.
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