Hello! For our experiment today, we're going to make an electromagnet with just a battery,
a nail, a wire, and some electrical tape. Let's start by turning to Lesson 11 in your student
journal and labeling the different parts of the electromagnet. Pause the video while you do that.
Now, follow along in your student journal as we complete this experiment together.
We're going to take this nail and wrap this copper wire around 30 times,
making sure to leave a length of wire on each end.
Okay, now let's see how many of these paper clips the nail can pick up.
How many did it pick up? You're right! It didn't pick up any. That's because
our nail is not magnetized yet. So now let's magnetize the wire.
Using the tape, secure the ends of the wire to the terminals of a D battery.
Okay, let's check if our nail is magnetized now. Yes! It's attracting the paper clips.
Let's see how many paper clips it can pick up. One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
It picked up seven! Go ahead and write that number down in your student journal now.
Remember, this nail only works as a magnet because
electricity from the battery is now flowing through it.
What do you think will happen if we change the number of times the wire is wrapped around the
nail? In your student journal, circle the number that you think will pick up the most paper clips.
Alright. This electromagnet has a wire wrapped around the nail just five times. Let's see
how many paper clips we can pick up. Look at that! Write one in your student journal now.
Next, we'll try this electromagnet. The copper wire is wrapped 45 times around this nail. Wow!
That is a tightly wrapped nail, right? Okay. Let's see how many paper clips it picks up.
One
Two
Three
Four
five
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine
Ten
That is a lot of paper clips! Remember to write that number in your student journal now.
Lastly, let's try this one with the wire wrapped ten times around the nail. How many paper clips
do you think the electromagnet will pick up this time? Let's see if you're right.
One
Two
Three
Four
Alright, put that number in your student journal now.
How did you do with your prediction? Why
do you think that the nail wrapped 45 times picked up the most paper clips?
Look at the bottom section in your student journal and circle the correct answer.
Scientists discovered that the more times the wire is wrapped around the nail, the stronger
the electromagnetic field becomes. This happens because it allows more electricity to flow through
it and strengthens it. Great work! And if you have a chance, share what you learned with your family.