Download 8Jc(2) Making strong electromagnets 1

Making strong electromagnets 1
8Jc(2)
Name
Class
Date
How can you make a strong electromagnet?
There are three things that you could change to alter the strength of an electromagnet:
• the number of coils of wire
• the current flowing
• the core.
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Prediction
I think that if I have
(more/fewer) coils of wire, the electromagnet will
be
(stronger/weaker).
I think that if there is
(more/less) current flowing, the electromagnet
will be
(stronger/weaker).
I think I can make an electromagnet stronger if I use a core made from
.
This is because
.
Apparatus
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Care – the wire will get hot!
insulated wire
connecting wires
power pack
ammeter
two crocodile clips
paper clips
iron rod or nail
glass rod
wooden rod or pencil
core
INS
MA
Method
Here is a diagram of
the apparatus you will
use. Label the diagram
using words from the
apparatus list.
A
LTA
VO 5
GE
6
8
4
RE
3
5A
2
5A
T
SE
.c.
xd
ma
.c.
xa
ma
Test A: Number of coils of wire
To make this a fair test I must keep the
and the
the same.
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Making strong electromagnets 1 (continued)
8Jc(2)
Method
A Make an electromagnet with 10 coils of wire and an iron core.
B Switch on the electricity and see how many paper clips the electromagnet picks up. Switch
off again and write your result in the table.
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C Repeat steps A and B for 20, 30, 40 and 50 coils of wire. Keep the same setting on the
power pack each time.
Recording your results
Number of coils
Number of paper clips picked up
10
20
30
40
50
Considering your results/conclusion
When there were more coils of wire, the electromagnet picked up
(more/less) paper clips. The more coils of wire, the
the electromagnet.
My prediction was
(stronger/weaker)
(right/wrong).
Test B: Current
You can change the current by changing the voltage. A higher voltage will give you a higher
current. Your teacher will tell you which voltages to use.
To make this a fair test I must keep the
the same.
and the
Method
A Make an electromagnet with 20 coils of wire and an iron core.
B Switch the voltage to 1 V and switch on the power pack. Read the ammeter and write the
current in the table.
C Find out how many paper clips the electromagnet will pick up. Switch off again and write
your results in the table.
D Repeat steps B and C for the other voltages.
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8Jc(2)
Making strong electromagnets 1 (continued)
Recording your results
Voltage (V)
Current (A)
Number of paper clips picked up
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Considering your results/conclusion
The higher the current the
My prediction was
(stronger/weaker) the electromagnet.
(right/wrong).
Test C: Core material
Planning
1 In your book, describe how you would investigate what happens if you change the material the
core is made from.
2 Write down how you will make sure your test is fair.
3 How will you make sure that your test is safe?
4 Show your plan to your teacher before you start.
Recording your results
5 Draw a table in your book to record your results.
Considering your results/conclusions
6 Write down what you have found out.
7 Describe how you could make the strongest electromagnet possible from school equipment.
I CAN...
• carry out a fair investigation
• make careful and accurate observations • draw a conclusion.
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