Assignment: Build an Electromagnet and a Motor Investigation

Electromagnet
1. How many paper clips did the wire wrapped around the nail just a few times pick up?

2. Which electromagnet design was most successful in picking up the most paper clips?

3. Would wrapping the wire more times around the nail make the electromagnet stronger or weaker?

4. What do you think the result would be if an iron nail that was much thicker was used?

5. What do you think would happen if a wooden stick was chosen as the core instead of the iron nail?

Motor
1. Describe the components that are necessary to make a motor run? What do they each provide? (example: battery provides voltage source)

2. Describe how the homemade motor makes mechanical energy from electrical energy.

3. What are three appliances in your house that use a motor that turns electrical energy into mechanical energy?