This document provides instructions for building an electromagnet using a nail, copper wire, and a power pack. It describes wrapping the copper wire around the nail in increasing numbers of loops and testing the electromagnet's ability to pick up paperclips. The results showed that more loops increased the electromagnet's strength. The discussion asks whether the nail's thickness or length would also impact strength.

1. Y E A R 8 – F O R C E S
ELECTROMAGNETISM

2. BACKGROUND INFORMATION
• Most magnets, like the ones on many refrigerators,
cannot be turned off, they are called permanent
magnets. Magnets like the one you made that can be
turned on and off, are called electromagnets.
• They run on electricity and are only magnetic when
the electricity is flowing. The electricity flowing
through the wire arranges the molecules in the nail so
that they are attracted to certain metals.

3. AIM
• To build an electromagnet

4. EQUIPMENT
• 1 large iron nail (10cm)
• 1m THIN COATED
copper wire
• 1 power pack
• 10 paperclips
• 2 wires
• 2 alligator clips

5. RISK ASSESSMENT
Risk Injury Prevention
Fill out a risk assessment for your experiment

6. METHOD
1. Wrap the copper wire tightly
around the nail so you make 5
loops. Leave about 10 cm of
wire loose at one end. Try not
to overlap the wires.
2. Cut the wire (if needed) so that
there is about another 10 cm
loose at the other end too.
3. Attach the copper wire to a
power pack using wires and
alligator clips.
4. Turn the power pack on at 4V
and try to pick up as many
paperclips as possible.
5. Repeat experiment with 10, 15,
20, 25 loops on the nail.
6. Repeat experiment 3 times.

7. RESULTS
Loops on nail Number of paperclips picked up
5
10
15
20
25

8. DISCUSSION
1. Does the number of times you wrap the wire around
the nail affect the strength of the nail?
2. Hypothesise whether the thickness or length of the
nail will affect the electromagnets’ strength.

9. CONCLUSION
• Write your conclusion here.