How to Make a Round Electromagnet

By Karen Silvestri

Make a Round Electromagnet
i Karen Y. Silvestri, Mark A. Hicks

Electromagnets are advantageous over permanent magnets in that they can be turned on and off at will. Electromagnets are relatively easy to build if you follow these steps.

Take the circular piece of metal (magnet) and wind copper wire around it. The windings should be tight and close together.

Connect one end of the covered copper wound wire to the output side of a switch.

Connect the negative (black) battery terminal to the negative input terminal on the switch.

Connect the positive battery terminal to the end of the wound wire on the magnet.

Check that the circuit is complete, beginning at the negative terminal of the battery to the input side of the switch, then from the output side of the switch to the magnet windings, and then back to the positive terminal of the battery.

Turn the switch on and the magnet will work.

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