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Build your own electromagnet with a nail, some copper wire, and a battery

Build your own electromagnet with a nail, some copper wire, and a battery

What will I need?

You can build your own electromagnet. Get about five meters of copper magnet wire (you can buy it at Radio Shack or Home Depot), a large iron nail or another piece of iron about the same size like a butter knife, a rubber band, some sandpaper, and an AA battery.

What’s an electromagnet?
Why do I need copper wire?
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More about electricity
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Where do I start?

Wind all of the copper wire around and around the iron nail, being sure to always go in the same direction so the electrons will all be flowing the same way. When you’re done, use the sandpaper to sand off the enamel coating from the very tips of your copper wire – just the last centimeter at each end of the wire. The wire will be a different color under the enamel coating.

Hook it up to electricity

Now connect your electromagnet to the AA battery, one wire touching the negative end and one wire touching the positive end. Use the rubberband to hold the wires in place.

Does your electromagnet project work?

Is your electromagnet working – will it attract paper clips? How does it react to Brio trains? (Note: it will get warm – that’s normal – it’s from the friction of all those electrons pushing their way through the wire.)

What is friction?
What are electrons?

For more excellent suggestions of projects with electromagnets, check out these projects from Hila Science Camp

Here’s another great one: build an electric motor

Learn by Doing – Magnets
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Bibliography and further reading about magnets and electricity:

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