Magnetic Forces

Make an Electromagnet

An Electromagnet begins with a power source, a battery and wire. When the wire creates a complete circuit between the positive and negative poles of the battery, the electrons will flow from the negative end of the battery to the positive end. Any time an electrical current flows through a wire a magnetic field is created. To create our magnet you will need:

1. One battery.
2. A piece of thin insulated copper wire- two feet in length.
3. Paper clips, staples or tacks.

Remove an inch of insulation from each end of the wire so it is possible to make a good contact with the battery.

Leaving a lead of several inches so wire is available to connect to your battery, carefully wrap the wire around the nail ten times. While holding one wire end on the positive contact of the battery and the wire end on the negative contact of the battery, move the nail close to a pile of paper clips. What happens? What happens to the paper clips when you do not keep the wire ends in contact with the battery and the circuit is no longer complete?

If you wrap more wire on the nail will the magnet change? Try wrapping the nail with more coils of wire or add a second layer of coils and complete the circuit. Was anything different?