Lab report on electromagnets

Science Lab on Electromagnets
By Caitlin Hendriks

Factors that Affect the Strength of an Electromagnet

Purpose: To test how two different factors, the number of loops and the current intensity, affect the strength of the magnetic field of an electromagnet.

Materials: Power pack, 4 connecting wires, switch, ammeter, paperclips, iron nail, copper wire.

PART A: TESTING THE NUMBER OF LOOPS

Procedure:
1. Create an electromagnet made of an iron nail with 5 loops of copper wire around it.
2. Draw a circuit diagram including the components in the materials list above, except the paperclips.
3. Build the circuit you drew in step 2, making sure all the switches are off. Show your teacher.
4. Turn the power pack on and adjust it to 7V.
5. Close the switch and count the number of paperclips the electromagnet can pick up at one time.
6. Turn the switch off and record the result.
7. Demagnetize the nail by tapping it on the table a few times.
8. Time permitting, repeat steps 5-7 for a total of 5 trials.
9. Repeat steps 1-8 (except step 2) with 10, 15, 20, and 25 loops.
10. Save the iron nail with 25 loops for Part B of the lab

Variables:
Independent: Number of loops within a circuit
Dependent: The number of paperclips per trial

Table 1: Measuring the Number of paperclips attracted to the electromagnet.

Number of Paperclips
Loops
Trial 1
Trial 2
Trial 3
Trial 4
Trial 5
5
1
0
2
1
2
10
3
2
4
3
5
15
4
7
5
5
8
20
6
2
4
5
5
25
6
7
8
6
6

Table 2: Averaging the numbers of paperclips per set of loops
Loops
Average # of Paperclips
5
1.2
10
3.4
15
5.8
20
4.4
25
6.6

Sample Calculation:
1. Average (trial1 +trial 2+ trial 3+ trial 4+ trial 5 = answer / # of trials = average)
1+0+2+1+2 = 6/5 = 1.2

Observations:
1. Create a raw data table with the results collected.
2. Create a processed