Making an Electromagnet

A simple electromagnet can be made by winding insulated copper wire around a large nail and then running an electrical current (such as from a battery) through the wire.The more windings you have around the nail and the stronger the electrical current, the stronger your electromagnet will be.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 24-inches of 18-gauge insulated copper wire
• One or more D cell batteries
• Large iron nail

1. Wind your copper wire tightly around a large iron nail. Start with six inches of lose wire and then wind the wire tightly around the nail until you have six inches of wire left.

2. Strip 1-inch of insulation off of the two ends of your wire.

3. Using tape attach one wire to the negative pole of a D-cell battery and then hold the other wire to the positive terminal of the battery.

4. Your nail will now be an electromagnet. Use it to pick up small items such as paperclips.

Tips & Warnings

• Putting two or more D-cell batteries together (positive pole of one battery into the negative end of a second battery) and then connecting your magnet's wires to the negative of one battery and the positive of the other will increase the voltage to your nail and will increase the strength of your magnet.
• Using more wire and putting more coils around the nail will also increase the strength of your magnet.
• Never, under any circumstances, plug the ends of your wire into an electrical outlet.
• Do not hold wires on battery(ies) too long as the wire may become hot and burn your fingers.