Hands-on Activity
Making a Magnet
Summary
Students will gain an understanding of magnetic fields and magnetic forces.
They will also observe how electrical currents can create magnetic fields in certain materials.
Overview
Topic: Magnetism, electricity
Real World Science Topics:
- An exploration of the force of magnetism
- An exploration of how electrical currents can induce magnetic fields
Objective
In this activity, students will create a simple electromagnet using a nail, a battery, and copper wire.
They will attempt to pick up nails using the magnet, and they will investigate how different variables
affect the strength of the magnet.
Activity Difficulty Rating: 2
Each hands-on science activity has been ranked based on
difficulty of set up and how difficult they are to perform. The rating
scale is from 1 to 5, with 1 being the easiest and 5 being the most
complicated.
5-MINUTE REFRESHER
TAKE FIVE
Use these quick refreshers to prep for your next class.