Download Electromagnetism

Electromagnetism
Grade 6
Strand: Understanding Matter and Energy
Topic: Electricity and Electrical Devices
Expectations
6s58 – describe the relationship between electricity and magnetism in an electromagnetic device;
Materials
- Iron nail
- Thin coated copper wire
- D battery
- Paper Clips
Procedure
1. Remove the insulation from the ends of the copper wire
2. Coil the copper wire 10 times around the nail
3. Connect the ends of the copper wire to the positive and negative ends of the battery
4. Try picking up paperclips with the electromagnetic field generated around the nail.
Scientific Explanation
A battery produces electrons. Electrons collect at the negative end of the battery. If a wire is
connected from the positive end to the negative end, the electrons will flow from the negative
end to the positive end to balance the valence and drain the battery quickly. The wire will also
produce a small magnetic field. The magnetic field runs perpendicular to the wire in a circular
motion. By coiling the wire around the nail, the magnetic field is amplified to create a much
stronger magnetic field.
References
http://science.howstuffworks.com/electromagnet1.htm
http://www.eas.asu.edu/~holbert/wise/electromagnetism.htm
Other Considerations
-what if you try coiling the wire around fewer or more times?
-what if you use more batteries to increase the voltage?
-how could this be applied? (i.e. Maglev train, guitar pickups, radio, speakers, telephone)