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

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

Comprehension

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

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

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

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

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

Electromagnet in Use

Electromagnet in Use

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

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

Exploration

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

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

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.

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?

Exploration Closure How can you make an electromagnet?