Introduction

Have you ever made a magnet with a nail, some wire, and a battery? This kind of magnet is called an electromagnet because it uses an electric current traveling through a wire to make the magnet. To make the electromagnet in this activity, a wire will be wrapped around the nail and then the wire will be connected to the ends of the battery.

Objectives

  • Make an electromagnet using a steel nail, a wire, and a D battery.
  • Measure the strength of the magnet as you wrap more wire around the nail.