Making strong
electromagnets 1
8Jd/1
Name
8
J
d
Class
How can you make a strong electromagnet?
There are three things that you could change to alter the strength of the
electromagnet:
●
●
●
the number of turns of wire
the current flowing
the core
Prediction
I think that if I have
(stronger/weaker).
(more/fewer) turns of wire the electromagnet will be
I think that if there is
be
(more/less) current flowing the electromagnet will
(stronger/weaker).
I think the electromagnet will be stronger if the core is made from
This is because
P
.
.
Method
Here is a diagram of the apparatus you will use.
Label the diagram using words from the
apparatus list.
Apparatus
●
●
●
●
core
●
●
●
●
Insulated wire
Connecting wires
Power pack
Two crocodile clips
Paper clips
Iron rod or nail
Glass rod
Wooden rod or
pencil
INS
MA
E
AG
LT
VO 5
6
8
4
T
SE
RE
3
5A
2
5A
x
ma
a.c
ma
xd
.c.
.
Test A: Number of turns of wire
To make this a fair test I must keep the
and the
the same.
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8Jd/1
P
Making strong electromagnets 1
(continued)
Method
1 Make an electromagnet with 10 turns of wire and an iron core.
2 Switch on the electricity and see how many paper clips the electromagnet
picks up. Switch off again and write your result in the table.
3 Repeat steps 1 and 2 for 20, 30, 40 and 50 turns of wire. Keep the same
setting on the power pack each time.
Recording your results
Number of turns
Number of paper clips picked up
10
20
30
40
50
Considering your results/conclusion
When there were more turns of wire, the electromagnet picked up
(more/less) paper clips. An electromagnet is
(stronger/weaker) with a lot of
turns of wire.
My prediction was
(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
P
and the
the same.
Method
1 Make an electromagnet with 20 turns of wire and an iron core.
2 Switch the voltage to 1 V and switch on the power pack.
3 Find out how many paper clips the electromagnet will pick up. Switch off
again and write your results in the table.
4 Repeat steps 2 and 3 for the other voltages.
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8
J
d
8Jd/1
Making strong electromagnets 1
(continued)
Recording your results
8
J
d
Voltage
Number of paper clips picked up
Considering your results/conclusion
The electromagnet is strongest when the voltage and current are
(highest/lowest).
My prediction was
(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 Show your plan to your teacher before you start.
Recording your results
4 Draw a table in your book to record your results.
Considering your results/conclusions
5 Write down what you have found out.
6 Describe how you could make the strongest electromagnet possible from school
equipment.
S
predicting, observing, considering
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