Editing Do it Yourself Electromagnet (section)

== Why This Works ==


''Electromagnetism'' is when you create a magnetic field by using a flow of electricity. In physics, this topic is often discussed when looking at moving charges, and studying how a moving charge creates a magnetic field around it. Electromagnetism also talks about how something that has a magnetic field can ''induce'', or generate, a charge in a surface as it moves by. This experiment we see this effect happen when trying to make an electromagnet. Iron is magnetic, but outside of a magnetic field it doesn't usually stay magnetic. When we wind the copper wire around it and connect it to a battery, we then have a moving charge through the wire. This generates a magnetic field, which then causes the nail to become magnetic!

In engineering, we can look at how to manipulate these electromagnetic properties by adjust the physical properties of a material. The top three groups all had tightly wound their wires around the nail. This tight coil is called a ''Solenoid'', and solenoids are great for increasing the amount of charge that we induce in another surface, in this case the nail. Some of the groups also insulated their wire using the electrical tape. If they insulated the entire solenoid after winding, then it helps prevent any energy loss to the air, which increases the strength of the magnet. If they insulated the wire before making the solenoid, then it will be the strongest, since the wires can no longer conduct sideways through each other, and the charge has to travel farther. This will make their magnet extra strong!