Circles of Magnetism

Make a magnetic field that's stronger than Earths

Introduction:
- Objective and purpose
The purpose of this project is to demonstrate the unit of Magnetism and observe how a
compass is affected by the magnetic field

Background:
Magnetism is a force of attraction or repulsion that acts at a distance. It is due to a
magnetic field, which is caused by moving charged particles. It can also be inferred to a
phenomena arising produced by a magnet. A magnet is an object that has a strong magnetic
field. It has two poles which are the north (N) and south (S) poles. The two magnets will be
attracted by their opposite poles, and each will repel the like pole of the other magnet.
A compass is an instrument used for navigation that shows direction. It is worked by
distinguished the Earths magnetic fields. The Earth has an iron core that is part liquid and
part solid crystal due. The movement of the liquid outer core is what produces the Earths
magnetic field. Like all magnetic fields the Earths magnetic field has two main poles, a north
and south pole. These magnetic poles are slightly off from the Earths axis rotation , but they
are close enough that the general directions with adjustments for the polar difference, called a
declination, can be used for navigation. The north end of a compass magnet is drawn in the
same way with the Earth's magnetic field. Because the Earth's magnetic North Pole attracts the
north end of other magnets, it is technically the "South Pole" of our planet's magnetic field.
Furthermore, the needle of compass can be sensed by the strength of Magnetic field. If there
are many magnetic field, the needle will follow the strongest one. Moreover, Right-hand rule is
also an important method for us to identify the direction of electric current, magnetic field, and
magnetic force. It shows the direction of induced current when a conductor moves in a
magnetic field. It can be used to determine the direction of current in a generator's windings.
Our inspiration came from our curiosity of how compass get affected by the magnetic
field and why it always points in the same direction all the time. We also want to observe that
what would happen if we create the magnetic field that is stronger than the Earths magnetic
field.
Description:
Tools and Materials
- 2 feet of 1/2-inch Schedule 40 PVC pipe PVC pipe - for making a stand where compass are
located. This long pipe will be cut into these following length:
- One 6-inch piece
- One 4-inch piece
Two 3-inch pieces
Three 2-inch pieces
Special shape of PVC pipe
Two 90-degree elbows
Three T-joints
12 feet (3.6 meters) of insulated copper wire (hard enough for bending), 12-gauge wire was
used for this coil
8 cable tie
A hot-glue gun and hot glue sticks
A flat, rigid platform with the area of 20 x 20 cm
Four to six small magnetic compasses, each measuring about 1 inch (2.5 cm) in diameter
Two electrical lead wires with alligator clips at both ends
One fresh D-cell battery
four nails for holding the D-cell battery
A PVC cutter
Wire stripper
Procedure:
1.Creating the stand:
Connect the PVC pieces together as shown in the photos above.
Cut a 1/8- to 1/4-inch-wide slit from the center of one edge to the center of the cardboard
piece.
Glue the opposite edge of the cardboard to the part of the PVC stand.

2.Making a square coil:

Strip about 1 inch of insulation from one end of the copper wire.
Leave about 1 1/2 inches of the stripped end, then measure another 10 inches and bend the
wire 90 degrees. Measure about 10 more inches and bend 90 degrees again. Continue the
process until you have formed a square "coil" with 10-inch-long sidesyou should have
three complete 4-sided square loops plus one additional side. Strip the insulation from the
last inch of wire. The completed coil is shown in the photos above.
Use the small cable ties to hold the wire together in the square coil shape.

3.Putting the whole thing together:

Turn the square coil on its side, and orient it so the side with the two stripped ends runs
vertically through the platform (see photo). Use the large cable tie to attach the coil to your
PVC stand.
Put the compasses in a circle on the cardboard.
Attach one end of a clip lead to each of the stripped ends, but do not attach the other ends
of the clip leads to the battery yet
Summary:
Compass needles line up with magnetic fields. Since Earth is a magnet, a compass will
normally line up with Earths magnetic field. Because opposite magnetic poles attract, the
magnetic north pole of the compass points toward the magnetic south pole of the Earth. On
the other hand, like- magnetic poles will pull off with one another.
Electric current passing through a wire creates a magnetic field (Fb = LIB). In the
vertical side of the coil, there are four wires and the current is the same size and moving in the
same direction in all of them. Thus the compasses are affected by magnetic field, produced by
a current four times larger than if they were surrounded by just one of the wires. Its better to
use a D-cell battery rather than a larger and expensive battery because using many complete
square of wire is better choice to save money but get the similar result ( amount of current
flowing) as using expensive battery with a single wire.
The electric current passing through the vertical side of the coil creates a magnetic field
that is stronger than Earths field (in a region close to the wires). The shape of new magnetic
field is occurred as concentric circles around the vertical coil wires. If the compass is put closer
to the wires, it will get stronger magnetic field. The total magnetic field at each point is the
addition of Earths field and the wires field. It affects the compass needle align themselves with
its total magnetic field. Since the magnetic field of the wire is stronger than the one from Earth,
the needle of compass will finally end up pointing in the direction of the Wires magnetic field.
If the direction of current is reversed, the direction of the magnetic field also reverses, and the
needles will also follow the new direction of magnetic field.
To find the direction of the magnetic field made by an electrical current, the method
used is called the right-hand rule. First, place your right hand with the thumb parallel to the
wire carrying the current. Your thumb points to the direction of electric current ( flows from
positive terminal to the negative terminal). Next, wrap fingers around the insulated wire. Your
fingers will point to the direction of the magnetic field around the wire. The needle of compass
will point in the same direction as your fingers
This experiment directly demonstrate the unit of Magnetism because we use compass as
a device which shows the direction of magnetic field and create the magnetic field that has
stronger influence of magnetic field.

References:
http://www.exploratorium.edu/snacks/circles-of-magnetism
http://www-spof.gsfc.nasa.gov/Education/Imagnet.html
http://www.livescience.com/38059-magnetism.html
SAT physic book Barron
 Circles of Magnetism
Make a magnetic field that's stronger than Earths

Toy Akarachai Nairiyasaj 1102

Ploy Nannapas Muenprasitivej 1102
James Khanathat Nunthachurat 1102

Physics

Ms.Susana Alulod

Mahidol University International Demonstration School