How to Create an Electromagnet

An electromagnet is a classic science experiment often made in a classroom setting. The idea is to turn a common iron nail into a magnet with the help of copper wire and a battery. An electromagnet works by transferring electrons, which are subatomic particles that carry a negative charge, from the battery into the copper wire. When these electrons are flowing, they create a magnetic force around the nail. It allows the nail to function as a magnet, picking up small metallic objects like paper clips.^[1] With a little patience and effort, you can make an electromagnetic battery of your own.

EditSteps

EditPreparing the Wire

1. Gather your materials. Before you can make an electromagnet, take a moment to gather your materials. You will need the following:
   
   • An iron nail that is 15 centimeters long
   • Three meters of 22 gauge insulated copper wire
   • At least one D-cell battery
   • A pair of wire strippers, which you can pick up at a local hardware store^[2]
   • A rubber band^[3]
2. Remove the insulation from the copper wire. Copper wires are usually coated in a layer of plastic for insulation purposes. This is to protect users from electric shock. However, the battery cannot transfer electrons to the wire through the insulation. The coating needs to be removed.
   
   
   • Using your wire strippers, remove a few centimeters of insulation from each end of the wire.^[4]
   • Wire clippers look like a pair of scissors with a hole cut out in the middle. You feed the wire through this hole and pull the clippers across the wire to strip the insulation. You should get a wire stripper that's small enough to strip a very small bit of copper wire.^[5]
3. Wrap the wire around the nail. Once you've prepared the wire, you can begin building your battery. To start, neatly wind the wire around your nail. The smaller loops you use, the stronger your battery will be. Be careful to leave enough wire on either end. You'll be attaching the excess wire to your battery, so it's a good idea to leave about 8 inches of loose wire on each end.^[6]
   
   
   • You should wrap the wire in one direction. This assures that electrons can flow through a wire in a way that creates a magnetic field.^[7]
   • If the wire is wrapped in opposite directions, magnetic fields will fight against each other. They will end up canceling each other out.^[8]

EditConnecting the Battery

1. Connect the battery. Once your done wrapping the wire, connect either ends of the wire to the battery. Connect one end to the negative side and one end to the positive side. Make sure the portions of the wire that have been stripped of insulation are the ends touching the battery. Use your rubber band to strap the wires in place by wrapping the rubber band around the battery from the negative end to the positive end.^[9]
   
   
   • It does not matter which end of the wire is connected to which end of the battery. It will work either way.^[10]
   • If a rubber band is not holding the wires in place, you can use two pieces of masking tape instead.
2. Test the electromagnet. You should now have successfully created an electromagnetic. To test the magnet, hover the battery over a metallic item like a paper clip. The paperclip should rise up and attach to the battery. You have created a magnetic charge with the wire, nail, and battery.^[11]
   
   
   • If you want to increase the strength of your battery, increase the number of coils running around your nail. This will allow your electromagnet to pick up more objects.^[12]
3. Fix any issues. In the event your magnet does not work, check the battery. A dead or low charge battery may not be effective in creating an electromagnet. If the battery is fine, review your process. You may have curled the wire in opposite directions, disrupting the flow of electrons. You may also have forgotten to remove the insulation from the wire.
   

EditTaking Safety Precautions

1. Use gloves when handling your magnet. Always use gloves when you begin experimenting with your magnet. Wires can get hot when in use. You want to make sure you do not burn your hands when handling your electromagnet. This is especially vital if you're working on strengthening your magnet. Electromagnets get hot as their strength increases.^[13]
   
2. Be conscious of heat. As stated, electromagnets get hot when you increase their strength by wrapping the wire tighter. If the device becomes very hot, you might want to disconnect the wires to deactivate the magnet for a bit. Excessive heat can cause burns and, in rare cases, may be a fire hazard.^[14]
   
3. Disconnect the wires when you're done with your magnet. You should not leave an electromagnet plugged in for long when it's not in use. For one, the battery can drain the magnet swiftly. Also, once again, heat is a concern. Once you're done playing with your magnet, disassemble it.^[15]
   

EditVideo

EditRelated wikiHows

• Make a Magnet
• Make a Clay Magnet
• Create a Collage in Your Locker
• Make Refrigerator Magnets
• Create a Magnet With a Wire and a Nail

EditSources and Citations

• Videos provided by Tinker Crate by Kiwi Crate, Inc.

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