Rhea Khosla Physics Lab Planning Lab: Electromagnets Aim: To find out the factors that are responsible

to affects the strength of an electromagnet, and how? Design and General Background: When a soft iron core is put inside a solenoid, and current is passed, magnetic field is created and the apparatus acts as an electromagnet. The electromagnet which is created is affected by some factors. In this lab, the current passed, and the voltage of the conductor, will be investigated. Comparing the mass of pins that the electromagnet is able to attract as the current passed through it is changed, the volt and coils remain constant will help to get the strength. Hypothesis: I think as the current is increased the mass of pins measured will also increase. Variables: Independent variable No. of coils, voltage Dependent variable No. and mass of pins attracted Controlled variable Current, iron core, no. of coils Materials Required: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Copper wire Iron nail pins Petri dish Precision electronic balance D.C. regulated power supply

Rhea Khosla Physics Lab Procedure:

1. Place an empty Petri dish on the balance. Press the switch so the weight reading comes to 0, and the mass of the Petri dish is ignored. 2. Wrap the wire around the nail, making 50 coils. 3. Connect the ends of the wire with the power. 4. Switch the power on at 0.21 I at a fixed Voltage. 5. Bring the nail close to the pins until theyre attracted to it completely. 6. Hold the nail above the Petri dish and switch it off, letting the filing drop in it. 7. Note the weight reading, and take the pins out of the Petri dish. 8. Repeat steps 3and 7 with current 0.35I, 0.50I ,0.80I ,1.30I ,2.20I

Data Collection: Mass of Pins Volt: 7.21V

Coil 50 50 50 50 50 50 Current (+/- 0.025) 0.21 0.35 0.50 0.80 1.30 2.20 W1 (+/-0.01) 0.02 0.06 0.09 0.13 0.45 0.82 W2 (+/-0.01) 0.02 0.07 0.11 0.12 0.45 0.83 W3 (+/-0.01) 0.02 0.06 0.09 0.13 0.47 0.82 Avg W (+/-0.01) 0.02 0.06 0.09 0.12 0.45 0.82

Data Processing: (Current Vs Weight)

Rhea Khosla Physics Lab

Conclusion: This graph shows us that when the current increases the holding capacity of the electromagnet also increases. While determining that the strength of the magnet is dependent on the amount of current is allowed to pass through it. Errors: 1. Systematic errors in the power supply will bring changes in the readings. 2. The wire might contain some impurities which decrease the strength of the magnetic field created.