Physical Science
Name:
Building an Electromagnet
Materials:
 nail or iron rod
 1 meter of wire
 1 or more lantern batteries
 1 set of alligator wire leads
 10 paperclips
Procedure:
1.) Make a simple circuit with your battery, wire, and a
lamp. Place a compass on top of the wires. What happens to the compass needle when the circuit
is closed (record observations below)?
2.) Wrap the wire 10 times around the iron rod as tightly as you can. Connect the ends of the wire
to the battery terminals. What happens when you put the coil and iron core near the paperclips
(record observations below)?
3.) Double the number of coils around the iron rod and see how many paperclips you can pick up
(record observations below)
4.) Now, put two batteries in series. How does that affect how many clips you can pick up (record
observations below)?
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5.) Make as many coils as you can and use both batteries. What is the maximum number of paper
clips you can pick up (record observations below)?
Questions:
1.) Why did the compass needle move when the switch was closed in part 1?
2.) What is an electromagnet? How does it work?
(see http://science.howstuffworks.com/electromagnet.htm)
3.) What occurs when you increase the number of coils? Explain your answer.
4.) What occurs when you increase the number of batteries in series? Explain your answer.
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