Question

Elle made an electromagnet with wire, a nail, and a 2.5 - volt battery. The electromagnet attracted a paper clip from 2 inches away. What action will make the electromagnet weaker? (She can decrease the number of coils around the nail; She can use a thicker piece of wire)

Answer 1

To make the electromagnet weaker, Elle can decrease the number of coils around the nail. Fewer coils mean there are fewer turns of wire for the current to pass through, which results in a weaker magnetic field. Using a thicker piece of wire would reduce the resistance, potentially allowing more current to flow, and could actually strengthen the electromagnet. Therefore, reducing the number of coils is the best action to weaken the electromagnet.