Download Build an Electromagnet Problem: How can I make a stronger magnet

Build an Electromagnet
Problem: How can I make a stronger magnet
that I can turn off and on?
Assessment:
A: One World
B: Communication
C: Scientific Knowledge and Concepts
F: Attitudes in Science
Research: You have experimented with magnets in class, but scientist sometime
need to use very powerful magnets. But a powerful magnet has a problem, how
can the magnet be turned off and on? In 1820, a Danish physicist Hans Christian
Oersted, discovered that there was a relationship between electricity and
magnetism. Thanks to Oersted and a few others, by using electricity , we can
now make huge magnets. We can also cause them to release their objects.
Electricity and magnetism are closely related. The movement of electrons causes
both and every electric current has its own magnetic field. This magnetic force
in electricity can be used to make powerful electromagnets that can be turned on
and off with the flick of a switch. But how do you make an electromagnet?
By simply wrapping a wire that has an electrical current running through it
around a nail, you can make an electromagnet. When the electric current moves
through a wire, it makes a magnetic field. If you coil the wire around and around,
it will make the magnetic force stronger.
Hypothesis: If I wrap 1, then 2, then 3 nails with 86 coils one layer, 84 coils two
layers, 172 coils one 2 layers then 3 nails with 172 coils 2 layers will hold the
most paper clips because there will be more electricity in the electrons, and the
magnet will be of bigger mass.
Variables: Independent Variable: Number of nails, number of coils, layers of wire.
Dependent Variable: Number of paper clips.
Materials
Item
Iron Nails
Copper Wire
Batteries
Paper Clips
Number
3
1
2
1 Box
Size
10cm
2m
D, 9Volt
Small
Procedure:
1. Wrap the wire in a tight even coil around the nail 10 X. Leave 10 to 15
cm of wire free on each end of the nail so that you can attach this to the
battery.
2. Look at the wire coiled around the nail. The ends of the wire must be free
of any plastic coating. If the plastic is on the wire, strip off the plastic
using scissors.
3. Attach one end of the wire to the positive + side to one of the batteries.
Attach the other end of the wire to the negative side of the same battery.
4. The nail should now be magnetic. Lay the paperclips flat on the table and
pick up as many paperclips as possible. Remember the paperclip must be
lifted completely off the table to be included in your data.
5. Record how many paperclips the nail picks ups in your data table.
6. Now remove the coils from around the nail. Can the nail still pick up
paperclips? Try dropping the nail several times, is it still magnetic?
7. Repeat the experiment but instead of 10 coils of wire in one layer, have 10
coils in 2 layers (5 coils down, 5 coils back). Record the number of
paperclips the electromagnet holds.
8. Repeat the experiment with 20 coils in one layer then 20 coils in 2 layers
(10 coils down, 10 coils back) Record the number of paperclips the
electromagnet holds.
9. Repeat the above experiment but with 2 nails then with 3 nails. Record
the number of paperclips the electromagnet holds.
10. Optional: If you have time: try part of the experiment above but with two
batteries. Do you think the electromagnet will be stronger or weaker?
Estimate how many paperclips you think a 2 battery electromagnet would
pick up.
Data Table:
Number of Paper Clips the Electromagnet Lifted off the Table
Number
Number of Paper Clips
of Nails
86 coils
86 coils
172 coils
2 layers
1
6
12
9
2
7
14
20
3
77
28
54
Data Processing: (optional)
Here you may include compressed photos of your lab if you wish.
Photos must be labeled.
Conclusion: Answer the following questions in complete sentences:
1. What are the independent variables in this experiment? The number of
nails, the number of coils, the number of layers.
2. What was the dependent variable in this experiment? The number of nails
picked up by the electromagnet.
3. What happens to the magnetic domain of the iron nail when the
electricity passes through the nail? All of the atoms(or “Tiny Magnets”)
line up and create the magnetic field.
4. How does adding more coils change the strength of an electromagnet?
Adding more coils runs more electricity through the magnet, so it creates
a stronger magnetic field.
5. What proof do you have to support your answer to question 4? We tested
it through our lab, more coils gave us much more paper clips.
6. How does adding more layers change the strength of an electromagnet?
More layer strengthens the electromagnet, instead of running more
electricity through it.
7. What proof do you have to support your answer to questions 6? More
layers has proven to be more magnetic; apart from the three nails which
we used a different battery, which affected the results.
8. How does adding more nails change the strength of an electromagnet?
Adding more nails gives the electric more space to move around with,
therefore having more energy; also more atoms are lined up, creating a
stronger magnet.
9. What proof do you have to support your answer to question 8? The more
nails we had, the more paper clips we picked up. Our test clearly proved
that statement.
10. From this experiment: What would be the strongest possible
electromagnet you could make? By theory the strongest was the 172 coils
2 layers 3 nails; We used the stronger D batteries for the 86 coil 1 layer 3
nails, but the other data states otherwise.
11. From this experiment: How do you know that an electromagnet is
temporary? How do you know you can switch it off? If an electromagnet
if temporary, then if you disconnect an electrical it will demagnetize.
12. Write a sentence that summarizes how the strength of an electromagnet
can be changed? The strength can be changed if you add more
coils/layers, if you have a bigger mass to magnetize, or if you have a
stronger electrical current.
13. Could any other material besides iron be used to make an electromagnet?
Cobalt and Nickel can also be made into magnets.
14. What is the advantage of an electromagnet over a permanent magnet? An
electromagnet can be turned on or off, so it can be used the lift objects
them dropping them, whilst permanent magnets are constantly magnetic,
so strong ones would be hard to deal with.
15. When in real life are electromagnets used? In real life, electromagnets are
used in transportation like the maglev, and often in engines/motors. In
computers, some of them use electromagnets to relay information; this
also applied for early phones.
16. Cite the source where this you obtained this information: MLA format
"Uses of Electromagnets." Universe Today RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Oct. 2013.
17. Where at IST would you expect to find an electromagnet?
From some of the solid state hard drives owned by people, to probably the
school car gate’s motor. In many of the electronic devices, the phones and
computers all have electromagnets in them.