Task 1: Build an electromagnet

After this task, I will be able to

1.Determine the relation between electricity and magnetism.

Construct an electromagnet accordingly to the teacher’s instructions and answer the following based on
your observations

1. Bring the setup near to the compass needle and note down your observations:
When the switch is OFF [ ] It deflects
[ ] It does not deflect
When the switch is ON [ ] It deflects
[ ] It does not deflect

2. What do you conclude from above observations?

a. A magnetic field is produced when current is passing through a conductor.

b. A magnetic field is produced when current is not passing through a conductor

2. John has made an electromagnet. But he has used a stainless steel bolt in place of iron bolt. He
observed the paperclips sticking to the bolt when the switch is turned ON, but the bolts are still stuck on
to the bolt, even after the switch is turned off. What would be the reason?

a. Stainless steel bolt has retained some of its magnetic strength.

b. The paper clips turned in to magnets

c. The direction of current changes, when the switch is turned OFF

Task 2: Direction of magnetic field

After this task, I will be able to

1.Determine the relation between the direction of electric current and the produced magnetic field

1.Bring a compass near the electromagnet, what do you observe when,

When the switch is OFF [ ] The magnetic needle deflects

[ ] The magnetic needle doesn’t deflect

When the switch is ON [ ] The magnetic needle deflects

[ ] The magnetic needle doesn’t deflect

2. Reverse the negative and positive terminals, i.e., connect the red end of the battery holder to the end
of the coil which was previously connected to the black end, and vice-versa. What do you observe?

a. The magnetic needle doesn’t deflect

b. The magnetic needle deflects in the same manner as in the previous case.

c. The magnetic needle deflects, but in the opposite direction to that of previous case

3. What do you conclude from the above observations?

a. The direction of the magnetic field produced doesn’t depend upon the direction of current

b. The direction of the magnetic field produced depends upon the direction of current

c. No magnetic field is produced when the terminals are reversed

Checkpoint:

1. Bring a magnetic compass near the electromagnet and identify, mark the poles in the boxes given.

a. b.

2. Bring a magnetic compass near the electromagnet and draw the magnetic lines of force.
Checkpoint:

1.In which of the following cases, the magnet is repelled? Circle the correct option.

Note: The long line indicates positive terminal and short line indicates the negative terminal of the
battery.

1.If a strong permanent magnet is used and AC power supply is given. (Magnet is placed inside the coil
and it is fixed at one place and coil is movable.) What do you observe when a magnetic compass is
placed near to it?

a. The magnetic needle rotates about its centre

b. The magnetic needle doesn’t deflect

c. The magnetic needle of the compass oscillates continuously

Task 3:

After this task, I will be able to

1.Determine the relation between the current supplied and the strength of the magnetic field produced.

1. Place a magnetic compass near the electromagnet. Move it along the horizontal until a point where
the magnetic needle cannot deflect. Note that minimum distance as X. Now, increase the amount of
current supplied, by increasing the number of batteries.
a. X > Y

b. X = Y

c. X < Y
2.What do you conclude from above observations?

a. The strength of the magnetic field increases with increase in the amount of current supplied

b. The strength of the magnetic field decreases with increase in the amount of current supplied

c. The strength of the magnetic field remains the same with increase in the amount of current supplied

HOTS questions: Challenge

1.Does an electromagnet work under water?

2. What happens if two strong electromagnets are kept closer to each otherand an AC power supply is
given to one electromagnet and DC power supply to other?

a. Two electromagnets attract each other

b. Two electromagnet repel each other

c. Alternative attraction and repulsion between the two electromagnets

Rubric:

Criteria Able Mostly able Partly With help

able
Conclude that current can produce
magnetic field around it
Observe the relation between the direction
of electric current and direction of magnetic
field
Understand that the strength of
electromagnet depends on the amount of
power supplied