LABORATORY ACTIVITY

Magnetic Field Lines

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Introduction

You will easily accept that if you push an object, if it is free to do so, it will move. You are able to see
how the object moves. However, forces (or pushes and pulls) exist that are not as easily seen. The most
pertinent example in our lives is gravity. We know it exists because we do not float away from the Earth, and
everything falls down. However, understanding how this force acts on us can be difficult since it is far less
visible or tactile than pushing on an object.
Magnets are much the same way. From observation, we know two magnets exert a force on each
other. However, we cannot see contact between the magnets when they start pulling on each other.
Therefore, we use field lines.
Field lines are a visual representation of force. They show the path an object would be pushed or
pulled when acted upon. For a vacuum cleaner, the field lines would be pointing into the bottom where the air
is pulled in (see Figure 1). For the Earth's gravity, all the field lines would be pointing towards the center of the
Earth. On a magnet, the field lines point from the north pole to the south pole. This is the direction another
magnet would be pulled if brought close to it.
For electromagnets, field lines are convenient. When iron shavings are poured around a magnet, they
line up with the force field lines around it. This gives us a great visual representation of the invisible force of
magnets. At the same time, when iron shavings are sprinkled around an electromagnet, it gives us a great
visualization showing the similarities and differences between magnets and electromagnets.

Objectives

● Describe current.

● Explain how voltage produces a current.

● Explain how current produces a magnetic field.

● Describe the interconnection of electricity and magnetism.

● Identify how magnetic field lines are generated in relation to a coil of wire that has a current.

Materials

● 1 bar magnet (rectangular)

● 1 sheet of paper

● 1 3/16-in iron nail (3-in long)

● 2 meters of 28 to 32 gauge copper magnet wire

● 100 g of iron filings

● 1 battery (AA, AAA or 9V)

● 1 pair of wire strippers

Procedure

1. Place a bar magnet on a flat surface, such as a desktop.

2. Place a piece of paper over the bar magnet so that it is completely covered and near the center of the paper.
3. Sprinkle iron filings onto the paper around the bar magnet. Avoid dropping large clumps in a single spot.
4. Gently shake the paper until field lines are easily seen.
 5. On your worksheet, sketch a picture showing how the shavings line up around the magnet.
6. Carefully lift the paper and remove the magnet; then place the paper (with iron filings still on it) back on the flat
surface. TIP: Attempt to not let any filings touch the magnet. Once fillings touch the magnet, it can be very
difficult to remove them.
7. Wrap the copper wire around the nail, leaving 4 inches of free wire at either end. Try to keep the windings tight
and close together.
8. Place one of the copper wires between the blades of the wire strippers. Gently pull the wire out. If done
properly, you should see specks of golden brown on the scissors blades. This is the wire coating.
9. Repeat step 8 with the other end of the wire.
10. Place the nail in the center of the iron filings.
11. Gently shake the paper.
12. Sketch the pattern made by the filings at this point.

Figure 2. Second half of the activity set-up.

13. Place either end of the wire on either contact of the battery, and then gently shake the paper (see Figure 2).
14. Sketch the pattern made by the shavings. Note that the magnetic field pattern, that you have just
demonstrated through your experiment, is important in designing and creating everyday engineering products
such as electric motors and electric generators.
15. Conclude with the post-activity assessment described in the Assessment section, and having students
complete the worksheet questions.

Documentation:
Procedures Picture

Procedure 1

Procedure 2
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Procedure 4
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Procedure 6
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Procedure 8

Procedure 9
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Procedure 11
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Procedure 13
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Procedure 15

Observation and Drawing

1. Sketch a picture showing how the shavings line up around the bar magnet

2. Sketch the pattern made by the iron filings when the nail is placed in them. Remember to draw the nail, wires
and battery.
 3. 3. Of the above two drawings, which was a magnet, and which was an electromagnet? #1 was
#2 was

4. Name at least one similarity between a magnet and an electromagnet:

5. Name at least one difference between a magnet and an electromagnet:

Conclusions: