Electromagnet s By: Danielle Ruff Cartersville Elementary School 3 rd Grade

Electromagnet  An electromagnet is a device that uses electricity to make a magnet.

Let’s Make an Electromagnet  I have a nail that I have wrapped with wire very tightly.  I will then attach each end of the wire to one side of the battery or the other.  Now the nail should be an electromagnet.  I can pick up paperclips with the nail.

How does it work? Most magnets, like the ones on many refrigerators, cannot be turned off, they are called permanent magnets. Magnets like the one you made that can be turned on and off, are called ELECTROMAGNETS. They run on electricity and are only magnetic when the electricity is flowing. The electricity flowing through the wire arranges the molecules in the nail so that they are attracted to certain metals.

Uses of Electromagnets  An electromagnet that is extremely strong can be used in a junk yard (or salvage yard) to move cars. After the car is on the magnet nobody could remove it. The magnet’s pull is too strong. When you turn the electromagnet off the car will drop back down to the ground.

Making a Generator  A generator is a machine that uses a magnet to make electricity.  If you wrap a wire around a bar magnet you can make a generator.  A generator is used to make electricity when a storm knocks out the power.