Laboratory Worksheet In this activity you will use the virtual laboratory to create an electromagnet to pick up paperclips. Notice that there are many variables to test in this lab. There is a power supply, a core for the wire to wrap around, different types of wire, and different gauges or thicknesses of wire. The voltage can also be adjusted. For each trial, choose one variable to change.

Pre-lab Questions:

Explain what it means when we say a substance is magnetic.
Discuss the relationship between electric and magnetic fields.
What type of metals are known as ferromagnetic metals?
Open the lab interactive and run a few trials changing the variables each time. Decide which variable you want to change in order to make a strong electromagnet, and record it here. This will be your independent variable.
Hypothesis

Record your hypothesis as an “if, then” statement. (If the independent variable does this, then the dependent variable will do that...)

Variables

List the independent (test variable), dependent (outcome variable), and controlled variables. Be sure to change just one variable for each trial.

Procedure

Use the virtual laboratory to create an electromagnet, changing only your independent variable.
Record the data and what each variable was set at for each trial.
Record the number of paper clips the electromagnet picked up for each trial (this is the dependent variable and reflects the strength of the electromagnet).
Repeat your trial three times. You should vary only the independent variable you chose.
Data

Record your data for each trial. Be sure to change just one variable at time. This will allow you to see which variables will affect the number of paper clips collected.

Trial Size of Wire Gauge Material of Wire Voltage Number of Winds Resulting Paper Clips Picked Up
Trial 1
Trial 2
Trial 3
Post-Lab Questions

Review your data. Did your experiment support your hypothesis? Explain your answer.
What role does voltage play in the formation or use of an electromagnet?
If you were able to keep the electromagnet that you created in your laboratory activity, what would be two possible uses for the electromagnet?
What is an advantage of using an electromagnet rather than a regular magnet?