TOPIC: ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS AND CONTROL; DESIGN SKILLS
CORE CONCEPTS SKILLS AND VALUES : • Practical demonstration: A simple electromagnet.
• PAT:
o Write a design brief with specifications and
constraints for a crane with electromagnet.
o Sketch two possible designs for a suitable crane
o Draw a circuit diagram for the electromagnet
(with a light to show when it is on).
REQUISITE PRE-KNOWLEDGE:
LESSON 1
LESSON TITLE: ELECTROMAGNET
DATE: 22.08.2025
DURATION: 1 HOUR
Demonstration lesson:
Now we are going to look at a very interesting phenomenon, which is the relationship between
electricity and magnetism.
Electromagnets are magnets that are created using electricity.
They are not permanent magnets.
They are only magnets when electricity flows through conducting wire that is coiled around them.
When the electricity is switched off, they lose their magnetism.
Electromagnets are very useful for separating scrap material.
Ferrous metals (metals containing iron) are attracted to
magnets.
A simple electromagnet.
• Make a simple electromagnet made by winding insulated copper wire around an iron nail.
•
• When an electric current flow in the wire coil (solenoid) a magnetic field is created, and this is
amplified by the iron core.
• Switching the current off causes the magnetic field to fade away.
CLASSWORK:
Answer the questions below:
1. What is an electromagnet? (1)
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2. Name 5 electrical devices where electromagnets are used as a component. (5)
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Iron nail
1 x Cell
Coil of
insulated
wire
Switch
Electromagnets
Now we are going to look at a very interesting phenomenon, which is the relationship
between electricity and magnetism.
Electromagnets are magnets that are created using electricity. They are not permanent
magnets. They are only magnets when electricity flows through conducting wire that is coiled
around them. When the electricity is switched off, they lose their magnetism.
Electromagnets are very useful for separating scrap
material. Scrap material in waste dumps is usually a mixture
of metals and non-metals. The ferrous metals, which are
those that contain iron, are still valuable. It takes a lot of
time to sort waste material by hand.
Ferrous metals (metals containing iron) are attracted to
magnets. An electromagnet is passed through the waste
material and all the ferrous metals stick to it. The
electromagnet is then moved over a collection bin. When
the electromagnet is switched off, the ferrous metals are
no longer attracted to it and they fall into the bin.
Apart from being useful to sort scrap metal, electromagnets are often used as components in
other electrical devices. Some examples include:
• motors: to rotate the motor,
• loudspeakers: an electromagnet
• responds to the sound signals and amplifies them,
• computer hard drives: electromagnetism is used to write and store data,
• electric bells: electromagnets attract and release the hammer of the bell, and
• a magnetic door switch: electromagnets can close and open doors.
Paper cone
Small
electromagnet
Permanent Electromagnet
magnet
Loudspeaker
In all these applications, the fact that the magnetic force can be controlled by switching
the electric circuit on and off is the property that makes the electromagnet so useful.
Make a simple electromagnet
(Your teacher will demonstrate how to make a simple electromagnet)
For this activity, you will need the following objects:
• a long iron nail, about 15 cm long. If you don’t have a long nail, you can make a bundle of
several pieces of iron wire,
• 3 m of insulated copper wire,
• a size-D cell, or size-C cell (not a rechargeable battery – it will make the wires very hot)
• a wire stripper, and
• metal paperclips.
1. Use the wire stripper to strip a small piece of the insulation from both ends of the insulated copper
wire.
2. Wrap the insulated wire neatly around the iron nail.
Make sure that you keep the wire turning in the
same direction. Keep the coils close together.
3. Now connect one of the stripped ends of the wire
to the positive terminal of the cell.
4. Connect the other stripped end to the negative
terminal of your cell.
5. To test if your electromagnet is working, see whether
it can pick up paperclips. If the paperclips are
attracted to the iron rod, then your electromagnet
is working!
6. Once you have tested your electromagnet,
disconnect the wire from one terminal of the cell.
Now try to pick up the paperclips. Are the paperclips attracted to the iron rod?
7. How can you use the electromagnet to pick up paperclips from one place and then put them
in a different place?
How does an electromagnet work?
There is a strong relationship between electricity and
magnetism. The electricity in the wire coils (solenoid)
creates a magnetic field. The iron nail is right in the
middle of this magnetic field. Because the iron nail is a
magnetic material, it becomes magnetised by the field.
The magnetic field from the electric current is made
much larger, or amplified, by the magnetic field in the
iron nail. Without the iron core, the magnetic field would
be very weak. When the electric current is switched off,
the iron nail loses its magnetism.
Symbol for an electromagnet
