Research Question: Can we make our own magnets?
Hypothesis: I think the nail will attract things made of iron.
Equipment
- half metre copper wire
- one dry cell
- 1iron nail about four centimetres in length
- electrical tape
- paper clips
- electrical tape
Method:
1. Get a half metre long copper wire and remove the insulation at both ends.
2. Wound the wire around the nail.
3. Attach the ends of the poles to the dry cell.
4. Trace the path of electricity in this device.
5. Bring the nail near some iron filings.
6. Observe how the iron filings behave.
7. Predict what would happen if the wire was detached from the dry cell.
8. Detach one wire from one terminal of the dry cell.
Observe what happens.
Safety Measures:
Be careful in removing the insulation of the copper wire to make sure you don’t damage it. Nails and paper clips are sharp so do not play with them. Wound the wire tightly and securely around the nail for positive results.
Conclusion
We can make our own magnets. The circuit was closed when you attached the ends of the wires to the poles of the battery. The nail in this experiment acted like a magnet. Electricity flowing in a conductor like the nail produces a magnetic field which results to magnetism. The nail attracts magnetic objects like the iron filings. The strength of an electromagnet is influenced by the number of turns it has on its coil, the material used and the amount of electricity in the wire.
