1. Lesson 5: What Makes an Electromagnet?
Unit 1
Lesson 5: What Makes an Electromagnet?

2. Objective
By the end of this lesson you should know what an electromagnet is and how to make one.

3. Comprehension

4. Vocabulary
Magnet – an object that attracts iron and some other materials
Electromagnet – a magnet that has coils of current-carrying wire around an iron core

5. Electromagnet
Electromagnet – a magnet that has coils of current carrying wire around an iron core
Essentially a magnet that runs on electricity

6. Magnetic Field
A magnetic field is the space around a magnet where the magnetic force works

7. Electromagnet It is a temporary magnet
If you turn the electricity off, it no longer works
How is an electromagnet different from a regular magnet?
Electromagnet
Magnet

8. Electromagnet Uses
Electromagnets are used in telephones, doorbells, construction equipment, and more

9. Electromagnet in Use

10. Electromagnet in Use

11. Electromagnet Strength
You can make an electromagnet stronger in two ways:
Add more coils of wire
Add a greater power source

12. Comprehension Closure
What is an electromagnet?
What makes an electromagnet better than a regular magnet?

13. Exploration

14. Table Exploration: Make an Electromagnet
Each table will be its own station.
You will have about 15 minutes to do the exploration.
Materials:
3 pieces of wire (1 m, 1.5 m, and 2 m)
Iron nail
Battery
Paper clips

15. Make an Electromagnet Step One Observations: Length of the Wire
*Copy this chart into your journals
Make an Electromagnet
Step One Observations:
Length of the Wire
Number of Coils
Number of Paper Clips Lifted
1 meter
1.5 meters
2 meters

16. Make an Electromagnet Steps:
1. Hold the nail over the paper clips. Record what happens in your journal under step one observations.
2. Wrap the 1 meter wire (shortest) around the nail as many times as you can leaving about 5 inches free on each end.
3. Connect the ends of the wires to the battery and hold the nail over the paper clips.
Lift the nail out of the paper clips.
Record your observations.
6. Repeat steps 2-4 for the 1.5 meters wire (middle length). Record your observations.
7. Repeat steps 2-4 for the 2 meters wire (longest). Record your observations.
8. Answer the questions in your journal.

17. Make an Electromagnet
Answer the following questions in your journal by
restating the question in your answer:
What happened to the nail after you wrapped the wire around it an attached it to the battery?
How does the number of coils relate to the electromagnet’s strength? How do you know this?
What makes an electromagnet different from a regular magnet?

18. Exploration Closure
How can you make an electromagnet?