Lab Activity
Interact with the virtual laboratory to create an electromagnet to pick up paperclips. Notice that there are many variables to test in this lab:
different types of material,
different gauges or thicknesses of wire,
number of winds around the iron bar,
the voltage

→ 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.

Hypothesis (5 points)
Record your hypothesis as an “if, then” statement.
(If the independent variable does this, then the dependent variable will do that….)




Variables (6 points)
Independent Variable:


Dependent Variable:


Controlled Variables:




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
Repeat your trial three times. You should vary only the independent variable you chose.

Data (10 points)
Record your data for each trial.

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. (3 points)






What role does voltage play in the formation or use of an electromagnet? (3 points)






If you were able to keep the electromagnet that you created in your laboratory activity, what would be two possible uses for the electromagnet? (2 points)






What is an advantage of using an electromagnet rather than a regular magnet? (2 points)