Science project

Electromagnetic Induction
Experiment

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Electricity is carried
by current, or the flow of
electrons. One useful
characteristic of current is
that it creates its own
magnetic field. This is
useful in many types of
motors and appliances.
Conduct this simple
electromagnetic induction
experiment to witness this
phenomenon for yourself!
Objective
Observe how current can
create a magnetic field.
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Subject
SciencePhysical Science
 What will happen when the
battery is connected and
the switch is turned on? Will
the battery voltage make a
difference in the magnetic
field?
Materials
 Thin copper wire
 Long metal nail
 12-V lantern battery
 9-V battery
 Wire cutters
 Toggle switch
 Electrical tape
 Paper clips
Procedure
1. Cut a long length of wire
and attached one end to the
positive output of the toggle
switch.
2. Twist the wire at least 50
times around the nail to create
a solenoid.
3. Once the wire has covered
the nail, tape the wire to the
negative terminal of the 12V
battery.
4. Cut a short piece of wire to
connect the positive terminal
of the battery to the negative
terminal of the toggle switch.
5. Turn on the switch.
6. Bring paper clips close to
the nail. What happens? How
many paper clips can you pick
up?
7. Repeat the experiment with
the 9V battery.
8. Repeat the experiment with
the 9V and 12V batteries
arranged in series (if you don’t
know how to arrange batteries
in series, check out this
project that explains how).
Results
The current running through
the circuit will cause the nail
to be magnetic and attract
paper clips. The 12V battery
will create a stronger
magnet than the 9V battery.
The series circuit will create
a stronger magnet than the
individual batteries did.
Why?
Electric currents always
produce their own magnetic
fields. This phenomenon is
represented by the right-
hand-rule:
If you make the “Thumbs-
Up” sign with your hand like
this:
The current will flow in the
direction the thumb is
pointing, and the magnetic
field direction will be
described by the direction of
the fingers. This means
when you change the
direction of the current, you
also change the direction of
the magnetic field. Current
flows (which means
electrons flow) from the
negative end of a battery
through the wire to the
positive end of the battery,
which can help you
determine what the
direction of the magnetic
field will be.
When the toggle switch is
turned on, the current will
flow from the negative
terminal of the battery
around the circuit to the
positive terminal. When the
current passes through the
nail it induces, or creates, a
magnetic field. The 12V
battery produces a
larger voltage; therefore,
produces a higher current
for a circuit of the same
resistance. Larger currents
will induce larger (and
stronger!) magnetic fields,
so the nail will attract more
paperclips when using a
larger voltage.
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