Question
Electromagnets are used in junk yards and recycling plants to pick up and move certain metal objects. The more strength the electromagnet has, the greater the mass it can move. Ms. Olivera challenged her students to build an electromagnet that could lift a mass of at least 20 grams. To simulate the metal found at a recycling plant, the students were given assorted iron masses that their magnet had to pick up to be considered successful. Since an electromagnet requires electricity to control it and turn it on or off, the students had assorted batteries to work with as well as switches. Their job was to find the right design and orientation of the wire so that its magnetic field works just like a regular magnet, but you can turn it on and off, and it must meet the criteria of picking up at least 20 grams of iron.
Electromagnet Challenge
Design #1 Design #2 Design #3 Design #4
Materials used Iron nail, D-cell battery, 100 cm wire, switch Iron nail, 9-volt battery, 250 cm wire, switch Iron nail, 9-volt battery,120 cm wire 2 iron nails, D-cell batteries, 150 cm wire, switch
Switch present Yes Yes No Yes
Mass lifted 14g 40g 30g 28g
Question 1
PART A
Analyze the student data as if you were Ms. Olivera. One group clearly won the challenge. What aspects of the winning design accounted for the strength of Group #2's electromagnet?
Responses
A Using a 9-volt battery for more electrical energy.Using a 9-volt battery for more electrical energy.
B Longer wire allows for more turns around the iron core.Longer wire allows for more turns around the iron core.
C More turns of wire around the core and the maximum voltage.More turns of wire around the core and the maximum voltage.
D Using a double-nail core and more turns of wire around that core.Using a double-nail core and more turns of wire around that core.
Question 2
PART B
Three of the four designs DID lift the required mass. One design fell short. After reviewing the other designs, it is apparent that changing one feature will easily result in this group's success. What is that change?
Responses
A Remove the switch from the circuit.Remove the switch from the circuit.
B Replace the D-cell with a 9-volt battery.Replace the D-cell with a 9-volt battery.
C Use two nails instead of one for the core.Use two nails instead of one for the core.
D Wrap the 150cm wire tighter around the iron core.Wrap the 150cm wire tighter around the iron core.
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Electromagnet Challenge
Design #1 Design #2 Design #3 Design #4
Materials used Iron nail, D-cell battery, 100 cm wire, switch Iron nail, 9-volt battery, 250 cm wire, switch Iron nail, 9-volt battery,120 cm wire 2 iron nails, D-cell batteries, 150 cm wire, switch
Switch present Yes Yes No Yes
Mass lifted 14g 40g 30g 28g
Question 1
PART A
Analyze the student data as if you were Ms. Olivera. One group clearly won the challenge. What aspects of the winning design accounted for the strength of Group #2's electromagnet?
Responses
A Using a 9-volt battery for more electrical energy.Using a 9-volt battery for more electrical energy.
B Longer wire allows for more turns around the iron core.Longer wire allows for more turns around the iron core.
C More turns of wire around the core and the maximum voltage.More turns of wire around the core and the maximum voltage.
D Using a double-nail core and more turns of wire around that core.Using a double-nail core and more turns of wire around that core.
Question 2
PART B
Three of the four designs DID lift the required mass. One design fell short. After reviewing the other designs, it is apparent that changing one feature will easily result in this group's success. What is that change?
Responses
A Remove the switch from the circuit.Remove the switch from the circuit.
B Replace the D-cell with a 9-volt battery.Replace the D-cell with a 9-volt battery.
C Use two nails instead of one for the core.Use two nails instead of one for the core.
D Wrap the 150cm wire tighter around the iron core.Wrap the 150cm wire tighter around the iron core.
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© Progress Learning 2025, All Rights Reserved.
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PHONE 1-877-377-9537
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FAX 1-877-816-0808
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Answers
GPT-4o mini
### Question 1
**PART A**
The winning design is Group #2's electromagnet, which lifted 40 grams. The aspects contributing to its strength include:
**C: More turns of wire around the core and the maximum voltage.**
Group #2 used a 9-volt battery, which provides more electrical energy compared to a D-cell battery. Additionally, they had a longer length of wire, which allows for more turns around the iron nail that acts as the core, strengthening the magnetic field.
### Question 2
**PART B**
The design that fell short was Design #1, which lifted only 14 grams. To help this group succeed, the most effective change would be to:
**B: Replace the D-cell with a 9-volt battery.**
Since Design #1 utilized a D-cell battery, switching to a 9-volt battery would increase the electrical energy supplied to the electromagnet, allowing it to produce a stronger magnetic field and, consequently, lift the necessary mass of at least 20 grams.
**PART A**
The winning design is Group #2's electromagnet, which lifted 40 grams. The aspects contributing to its strength include:
**C: More turns of wire around the core and the maximum voltage.**
Group #2 used a 9-volt battery, which provides more electrical energy compared to a D-cell battery. Additionally, they had a longer length of wire, which allows for more turns around the iron nail that acts as the core, strengthening the magnetic field.
### Question 2
**PART B**
The design that fell short was Design #1, which lifted only 14 grams. To help this group succeed, the most effective change would be to:
**B: Replace the D-cell with a 9-volt battery.**
Since Design #1 utilized a D-cell battery, switching to a 9-volt battery would increase the electrical energy supplied to the electromagnet, allowing it to produce a stronger magnetic field and, consequently, lift the necessary mass of at least 20 grams.