Creating an Electromagnet
Student teams investigate the properties of electromagnets. They create their own small electromagnets and experiment with ways to change their strength to pick up more paperclips. Students learn about ways that engineers use electromagnets in everyday applications.
Figure 1. A basic electromagnet.Copyright Alex Dzierba, High Energy Physics, Indiana University. Used with permission. http://dustbunny.physics.indiana.edu/~dzierba/Scidemo/
Engineers design electromagnets, which are a basic part of motors. Electromagnetic motors are a big part of everyday life, as well as industries and factories. We may not even realize that we interact with electromagnets on a daily basis as we use a wide variety of motors to make our lives easier. Common devices that use electromagnetic motors are: refrigerators, clothes dryers, washing machines, dishwashers, vacuum cleaners, sewing machines, garbage disposals, doorbells, computers, computer printers, clocks, fans, car starters, windshield wiper motors, electric toothbrushes, electric razors, can openers, speakers, music or tape players, etc.
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Relate that electric current creates a magnetic field.
- Describe how an electromagnet is made.
- Investigate ways to change the strength of an electromagnet.
- List several items that engineers have designed using electromagnets.