Electromagnets: Winding Things Up
Recommended for grades 6–12.
Introduction
A magnetic field forms around a wire that has an electric current in it. Winding a wire around a piece of iron increases the strength of the magnetic field. A temporary magnet made in this way is called an electromagnet. In this experiment, you will use a computer-interfaced Magnetic Field Sensor to study the relationship between number of wire winds and magnetic field strength of an electromagnet.
Objectives
In this experiment, you will
- Build an electromagnet.
- Measure magnetic field strength.
- Graph the results.
- Make conclusions about the relationship between number of wire winds and magnetic field strength.
Sensors and Equipment
This experiment requires each of the following Vernier sensors and equipment (unless otherwise noted):
Additional Requirements
You may also need an interface and software for data collection. What do I need for data collection?
Download Experiment Preview
The student-version preview includes:
- Step-by-step instructions for computer-based data collection
- List of materials and equipment
Note: The experiment preview of the computer edition does not include essential teacher information, safety tips, or sample data. Instructions for Logger Pro and other software (such as LabQuest App or TI handheld software, where available) are on the CD that accompanies the book. We strongly recommend that you purchase the book before performing experiments.
Standards Correlations
See all standards correlations for Physical Science with Vernier »
Included in the Lab Book
Vernier lab books include a CD with word-processing files of the student instructions, essential teacher information, suggested answers, sample data and graphs, and more.