Electromagnetic Experiment

Sebastian Orellana

Along with my investigation of how electrical currents affect magnetic fields, I investigated how
gauge level and material affect the electrical charge and therefore magnetism of my object.

Hypothesis: If 16 gauge, 18 gauge, and 24 gauge wire made of copper, aluminum, steel, and
brass are wrapped around a 2 inch galvanized steel nail 8 times each, then 16 gauge copper
wire will pick up more paperclips than other electromagnets in the experiment.

Procedure:

1. Make electromagnets by:

a. Wrapping 8 coils of wire around a 2-inch galvanized steel nail
i. While wrapping, be sure to leave 5 centimeters of wire on each side of the
nail to connect to the battery
ii. Make sure to place the endpoints of the coil along the ends of the nails
iii. Cover the ends of the wire with a towel so that you do not burn your hand.
b. Attaching opposite ends of the wire to opposite ends of a 0.2 volt d cell battery
2. Observe and record the amount of paperclips the 16, (16-24 gage, aluminium, or copper,
or steel, or brass wire with a 2 inch galvanized, steel nails) can pick up within 30
seconds, while the electromagnet is 3 millimeters above the paperclips. The paper clips
should be set up in a row of 21.
3. Compare the 16 electromagnets and rank them by number of paper clips picked up.
Data:

16 gauge 18 gage 24 gage Gauge Avg

Steel Trial 1 0.25 paperclips N/A 0 paperclips 0.12 paperclips

Copper Trial 1 2 paperclips N/A N/A 2 paperclips

Brass Trial 1 1 paperclips N/A N/A 1 paperclips

Aluminium Trial 1 N/A 0 paperclips N/A 0 paperclips

Steel Trial 2 0 paperclips N/A 0 paperclips 0 paperclips

Copper Trial 2 1 paperclip N/A N/A 1 paperclips

Brass Trial 2 1 paperclips N/A N/A 1 paperclips

Aluminium Trial 2 N/A 0 paperclips N/A 0 paperclips

Steel Trial 3 0.25 paperclips N/A 0 paperclips 0.12 paperclips

Copper Trial 3 1.5 paperclips N/A N/A 1.5 paperclips

Brass Trial 3 0 paperclips N/A N/A 0 paperclips

Aluminium Trial 3 N/A 0 paperclips N/A 0 paperclips

Steel Avg 0.16 paperclips N/A 0 paperclips 0.08 paperclips

Copper Avg 1.5 paperclips N/A N/A 1.5 paperclips

Brass Avg 0.66 paperclips N/A N/A 0.66 paperclips

Aluminium Avg N/A 0 paperclips N/A 0 paperclips

Wire Avg 0.77 paperclips 0 paperclips 0 paperclips

Wire Average Mean: 0.26 paperclips

Gauge Average Mean: 0.56 paperclips
Conclusion/Analysis:
In sync with my hypothesis, the experiment shows that copper is the most magnetic
material in the experiment. In each trial, copper picked up the most paper clips. For example, in
trial 1, copper picked up 2 paperclips, while the other three materials only picked up steel wire, 1
paperclip, and no paperclips. This pattern remains constant throughout the data table.
Similarly, from the steel rows I have discovered that a higher gauge relates to a more
magnetic material. This is because, using 16 gauge steel wire, the electromagnet was able to
pick up an average of 0.16 paperclips, while using 24 gauge wire, it was not able to pick up
anything.
However, these patterns may not be fully accurate, as I had limited materials and
relevant gauges throughout the experiment, For example, I was not able to find 16 gauge
aluminium or 18 gauge, copper, steel, or brass or 24 gauge, copper, aluminum, or brass. With
a more complete data table, I may have been able to draw more accurate conclusions.
In the future, I hope to do this experiment again with a wider variety of materials and
gauges.

Description of an Electromagnet:
An electromagnet is magnet which runs on an electrical current, which can easily be
changed. The electrical current creates an electric field which is also a magnetic field as the two
terms are interchangeable. A simple electromagnet, as shown here, is an uninsulated wire
attached to either side of a battery, and wrapped around a non galvanized steel nail. This works
because the current from the battery flows through the wire and, as a result, magnetizes the
nail.