Electromagnet Fishing Rod
Electromagnetic Fishing Rod
Note: This activity can be dangerous, especially if around water. Please be sure to watch the safety portion of the video and all instructions with a parent or guardian before attempting this experiment.
Introduction:
The electromagnetic fishing rod utilizes the principle that electric currents produce magnetic fields, this is known as Ampere’s Law. Wrapping the wires in a loop around the nail produces what is known as a solenoid, this directs a magnetic field through the nail, turning it into a strong magnet (the strength of the magnet being related to how much current is going through the wire and the number of coils around the nail).
Purpose:
Creating an electromagnet by running a coil of wire around a nail and attaching the wire to a battery. This would then be used to pick up light metal objects (paperclips). This activity teaches how electricity and magnetism relate to each other.
Materials:
- A ruler (ideally with a hole on end)
- 41” of wire with ends stripped to ½”
- a wire stripper (can use scissors)
- electrical tape
- d size battery, a 2.5” nail
- metal paper clips
Why the scientists love
this activity:
“We at SPS really like this activity because it is a great introduction into how electricity and magnetism relate to each other, a very important concept in physics which leads to many interesting phenomena (such as how they relate to light itself).”
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Young Women in Science is a outreach program run by Graduate Women in Science that aims to bring science activities to girls in grades 5-10 to help develop their interests in science and prepare them for a possible career as a scientist.