My Pals are Here! Science © 2008 Marshall Cavendish (Singapore) Private Limited

A question to think about… How can we make magnets? My Pals are Here! Science © 2008 Marshall Cavendish (Singapore) Private Limited

The stroke method Notice that the iron filings are not attracted to a magnetic object such as an iron nail. My Pals are Here! Science © 2008 Marshall Cavendish (Singapore) Private Limited To make the iron nail into a magnet, you will need a strong bar magnet and a magnetic object.

The stroke method First, stroke the iron nail about 20 times with one pole of a bar magnet. My Pals are Here! Science © 2008 Marshall Cavendish (Singapore) Private Limited Take note to stroke with the same pole. Always repeat your strokes in the same direction.

The stroke method Next, try to pick up the iron filings with the nail again. The magnetised iron nail will be able to attract the iron filings. The iron nail has now become a magnet. My Pals are Here! Science © 2008 Marshall Cavendish (Singapore) Private Limited

The electrical method My Pals are Here! Science © 2008 Marshall Cavendish (Singapore) Private Limited We can also make magnets using electricity. Magnets made this way are called electromagnets. To make an electromagnet, coil an electric wire at least 20 times around a magnetic object such as an iron nail. Connect the ends of the wire to a battery. If the iron nail can pick up the same things as a bar magnet, it has now become a electromagnet. The electromagnet is only a magnet when it is connected to a battery or a source of electricity. The iron nail loses its magnetism once it is disconnected, and will not be able to attract magnetic objects.

My Pals are Here! Science © 2008 Marshall Cavendish (Singapore) Private Limited