Learning how to make an electromagnet for kids is an exciting activity that will interest kids of all ages. Be it a preschooler or a teen, children are naturally drawn towards magnets and this fun STEM activity builds on this attraction, encouraging kids to learn about magnetic fields and explore more such easy science activities.
- What is an Electromagnet
- DIY Electromagnet
- Science Behind Electromagnet
- Free Electromagnet Worksheets
But before you start making an electromagnet, let’s first understand what an electromagnet is.
What is an Electromagnet?
Electromagnet is a temporary magnet that acts like a magnet when current is passed through it. Unlike a permanent magnet, it works on electricity and loses its magnetic properties when the current is switched off.
Simply put, think of it like a magnet that you can turn on and off with the help of a switch, just like an ordinary electric appliance.
Make An Electromagnet For Kids At Home
This cool STEM activity for kids will teach children how to make an ordinary nail into a magnet by using simple things found in home. It’s a perfect DIY STEM project for school and a great addition to electricity and magnet study units.
Supplies for DIY Electromagnet For Kids
- Iron nail – 5 inch or longer
- Insulated copper wire
- Electrical tape
- Paper Clips
- Battery
How To Make An Electromagnet Step-by-Step
Step 1: Clean the iron nail of any surface dirt and rust.
Step 2: Take the copper wire and wrap it around the nail leaving around 6” of wire loose at the end. Wind the wire on the nail without overlapping and leave an inch uncovered at both ends of the nail.
Step 3: Cut-off the wire leaving 6” loose after the nail is wrapped.
Step 4: Scrape the loose ends of the wire to remove the outer insulation. Attach the wire ends to the battery and secure it with electric tape.
That’s it! Your simple electromagnet is ready. Bring the paper clips close to the uncovered of the nail and see what happens. Make sure not to touch the electrical wire as it gets hot due to heat dissipation.
Unsecure one end of wire from the battery and see what happens. Like discussed earlier, electromagnet works only when electric current is passed through it.
When you detach the wire from the battery, the electric circuit is incomplete and the nail no longer functions as an electromagnet.
Did you know Earth is a giant magnet owing to its molten metal core? For more crazy facts, dive into Weird But True Facts For Kids!
Science Behind Electromagnets
Electromagnets work on the fundamental principle of electromagnetism, which states that a moving electric current generates a magnetic field around it and vice-versa. It was first observed by Hans Christian Orsted, a Danish scientist in 1820.
Electromagnets exploit this property to make temporary magnets that can be turned on and off. When electric current is passed through the wire, in this case the copper wire, a small magnetic field is generated around it. To make it stronger, the wire is wound in a spiral to overlap the magnetic field generated by the electric current.
While this creates a magnetic force and acts like an electromagnet, it is not strong enough to attract paper clips. To make it stronger and for our simple electromagnet to work, you need to add the iron nail (also called core in scientific terms) – a ferro-magnetic material that behaves like a magnet when current is passed through it.
Together, the coiled wire (referred to as a solenoid) and the nail create a strong enough magnetic field to attract paper clips.
Now that you pretty much understand how electromagnets work, question kids if they can think of ways of making their electromagnet stronger. Let them experiment by making fewer and more wraps of wire around the nail and observing the strength of their electromagnet, using a stronger battery pack and different materials for the core.
Make sure to change only one variable at a time and keep others constant to see the correlation between them.
Such simple science activities make for wonderfully easy yet informative STEM projects for students and kids at home.
Download Electromagnet Worksheets Free Printable
Make sure to download these Free printable that will test your kids and help them reintegrate the science behind electromagnets. Perfect for classroom and home learning, these free electromagnet worksheets for kids are a great addition to this fun science activity.
Free Electromagnet Worksheets
FAQ
Iron is a ferro-magnetic material meaning it displays strong ability to form magnetic fields. On application of current, its magnetic domains line up in the same direction making it behave like a regular magnet. Other ferro-magnetic materials like Cobalt and Nickel can also be used.
Electric door bells; Electric motors, MRI’s; magnetic locks
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