Download Magnets and Electricity

Magnets and Electricity
Magnets are used to generate, or produce, electricity. Spinning a coil of wire
inside a magnetic field produces an electric force between the ends of the coil. In a
similar way, an electric current produces a magnetic field around it. A compass placed
next to a wire carrying an electric current will point to the wire.
A current-carrying wire wrapped in
a coil of more wire makes a strong
magnet. A coil of current-conducting wire
wrapped around an iron bar makes an
even stronger magnet. Around the coil is a
magnetic field much like the one around a
bar magnet. But a bar magnet is always
magnetized, while a coil wrapped around
an iron bar is a magnet only when electric current flows through the coil. For this
reason it is called an electromagnet.
This link between electricity and magnetism
allows motion to be produced from electric
energy. An electric motor uses electromagnets.
By changing the direction of the electric current
back and forth, these electromagnets alternately
attract and repel each other. This causes the
motor to turn.
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What forms around a wire carrying an electric
current?