Question
Experimenting with Electromagnets
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 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.
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 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.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
**PART A - Analysis of Group #2's Design**
The winning design, Group #2's electromagnet, demonstrated notable strengths that contributed to its success in lifting the required mass of 40 grams. The aspects that accounted for the strength of Group #2's electromagnet include:
**C: More turns of wire around the core and the maximum voltage.**
Using a 9-volt battery supplied more electrical energy than a D-cell battery and allowed for more turns of wire around the iron nail core, which strengthened the magnetic field. More turns of wire increase the magnetic field strength, making the electromagnet more effective at lifting heavy objects. Hence, this combination of higher voltage and increased wire turns worked synergistically to create a powerful electromagnet.
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**PART B - Identifying Changes for the Design that Fell Short**
Among the four designs, Design #1 lifted only 14 grams and fell short of the 20-gram requirement. In reviewing the other designs, the most effective change to ensure this group’s success would be:
**B: Replace the D-cell with a 9-volt battery.**
Changing from a D-cell battery to a 9-volt battery would significantly increase the electrical energy supplied to the electromagnet. This switch could enhance the strength of the electromagnet, allowing it to lift the required mass of at least 20 grams. While using two nails or adjusting the wire is beneficial, the direct impact of increasing the voltage by switching to a 9-volt battery would likely provide the necessary boost in magnetic strength to meet the challenge's criteria.
The winning design, Group #2's electromagnet, demonstrated notable strengths that contributed to its success in lifting the required mass of 40 grams. The aspects that accounted for the strength of Group #2's electromagnet include:
**C: More turns of wire around the core and the maximum voltage.**
Using a 9-volt battery supplied more electrical energy than a D-cell battery and allowed for more turns of wire around the iron nail core, which strengthened the magnetic field. More turns of wire increase the magnetic field strength, making the electromagnet more effective at lifting heavy objects. Hence, this combination of higher voltage and increased wire turns worked synergistically to create a powerful electromagnet.
---
**PART B - Identifying Changes for the Design that Fell Short**
Among the four designs, Design #1 lifted only 14 grams and fell short of the 20-gram requirement. In reviewing the other designs, the most effective change to ensure this group’s success would be:
**B: Replace the D-cell with a 9-volt battery.**
Changing from a D-cell battery to a 9-volt battery would significantly increase the electrical energy supplied to the electromagnet. This switch could enhance the strength of the electromagnet, allowing it to lift the required mass of at least 20 grams. While using two nails or adjusting the wire is beneficial, the direct impact of increasing the voltage by switching to a 9-volt battery would likely provide the necessary boost in magnetic strength to meet the challenge's criteria.