Make an Electromagnet

Create a magnet with electricity. Electromagnets are used in many things that you see or use everyday - like motors, speakers and even automatic doors.

Share

things you will need

  • 1 x 4 AA battery pack
  • Copper wire
  • 1 x black croc clip lead
  • 1 x red croc clip lead
  • Large iron nail
  • Staples

safety notice

  • The battery pack and wire can get hot quickly. Always hold the plastic covered croc clips.
  • Never leave the electromagnet unattended.
  • Only ever use the electromagnet for about one minute at a time.
  • Always disconnect the wires from the battery pack when you have finished using the electromagnet.
1

Make one loop

Take the copper wire and starting about 5cm from the end make one loop around the top of the nail.

2

Cover the nail

  • Wrap the copper wire around the nail 15 to 20 times. 
  • Trim the end of the copper wire, leaving 5cm spare.
3

Power it up

  • Connect a red croc clip to the red wire of the battery pack and the copper wire at the top of the nail.
  • Connect a black croc clip to the black wire of the battery pack and the copper wire at the bottom of the nail.

Things to know

When you connect the battery pack to the ends of the copper wire, you are making a closed circuit.

4

Try it out

  • Turn the battery pack on and hey presto. You have made a magnet.
  • Holding one of the black and red croc clips, use the end of your nail to pick up the staples.

Things to know

When electric current flows through a wire it creates a magnetic field around it. By looping the wire into a coil you have created lots of magnetic fields that when combined create a magnetic field strong enough to pick up your staples.

Turn the battery pack off and the magnetic fields will disappear.

5

Challenge time

  • Can you make your magnet stronger by adding more coils to the wire?
  • How strong is your magnet? Fasten it to a toy crane and see what you can lift.

You Might Also Like:
Circuits

Conductor Test

Build your own conductor tester and check what objects around your home are conductors or insulators.
Experiments

Make a Lemon Battery

Did you know that you can make batteries using certain fruit and vegetables?! Let’s make a lemon battery strong enough to power an LED (light emitting diode).