Electromagnetism Reading Questions - Answers https://science.howstuffworks.com/electromagnet.htm/printable
1. What is electromagnetism?
A wire wrapped around a piece of wire which creates a magnetic field when current is ran through the wire.
2. How does a wrecking yard utilize electromagnets? What would be the benefit of electromagnets versus a claw to grab stuff?
A wrecking yard utilizes electromagnets by using the magnetic field generated when current is ran through an electromagnet to pick up metal and move it to a different spot. To release the metal the current is turned off.
The benefit of electromagnets versus a claw because the electromagnet can grab ONLY metals (items that are attracted to magnets)
3. Draw and label a simple electromagnet below.
4. How do permanent magnets differ from electromagnets? Permanent magnets are different from electromagnets because permanent magnets have a constant magnetic fields whereas electromagnets magnetic field can be turned on and off.
5. Why is using an electromagnet more useful in a doorbell than a permanent magnet?
Using an electromagnet is more useful in a doorbell than a permanent magnet because using a permanent magnet would require the clapper and bell to be forcibly pulled apart whereas an electromagnet can just be turned off.
6. What were the 3 observations Maxwell made?
a. Charges can attract or repel
b. Magnets have poles
c. When current is passed through a wire it generates a magnetic field around the wire.
7. Which of Maxwell’s observation were the most important to electromagnetism? Why? Maxwell’s observation of a current passing through a wire and creating a magnetic field around the wire was the most important to electromagnetism because this showed that magnetism can be created in a wire and can be turned on and off.
8. How did Oersted figure out that current has a magnetic field? Oersted figured out that current has a magnetic field by observing a compass that reacted when a battery was turned on and off which can only happen if there was a magnetic field present from turning on the battery.
9. What is the strength of the electromagnet related to? Why do you think it has that effect?
The strength of the electromagnet is related to the number of coils wrapped around the piece of metal. This is because each coil added adds more magnetic field strength.
10. What can power an electromagnet?
Anything that can produce a current can power an electromagnet.
11. What happens to a battery if you just connect a wire to it? Why?
If you just connect a battery to a wire there would be no load in the circuit and energy would quickly drain out of the battery.
12. How is the Earth an electromagnet?
Earth is an electromagnet because Earth has an iron core. This iron core has a north and south pole. The movement of this liquid iron across the outer core creates a current. This current generates a magnetic field, known as Earth’s magnetic field.
13. What is the advantage electromagnets have over permanent magnets? How is this feature helpful in electronic devices?
The advantage electromagnets have over permanent magnets is that electromagnets can be turned on and off. This is helpful in electrical devices that need to have objects move together and then move apart.
14. What is another application of electromagnets? How does it work?
Another application of electromagnets is to store information. This works by tiny pieces of magnetized metal being embedded into the surface of the technology and can be read back as binary code (computer code).