A student built a simple electromagnet with copper wire, an iron bolt, and a 1.5-volt battery. The electromagnet was able to lift a paper clip from 3 centimeters away. Select THREE ways the student can increase the strength of his electromagnet.

Question

He can use a thicker piece of copper wire
He can reverse the orientation of the battery
He can replace the iron bolt with a wooden rod
He can add a switch between the battery and the iron bolt
He can replace the 1.5-volt battery with a battery of higher voltage
He can use a longer piece of wire that wraps more times around the bolt

Answer 1

To increase the strength of the electromagnet, the student can consider the following three options:

1. He can use a thicker piece of copper wire - Thicker wire has less resistance, allowing more current to flow, which can strengthen the magnetic field.

2. He can replace the 1.5-volt battery with a battery of higher voltage - A higher voltage battery can provide more current to the electromagnet, which will also strengthen the magnetic field.

3. He can use a longer piece of wire that wraps more times around the bolt - Increasing the number of turns of wire around the bolt enhances the magnetic field because each loop of wire contributes to the overall magnetic effect.

The other options listed would not effectively increase the strength of the electromagnet. Reversing the battery simply changes the direction of the current but does not increase strength, and using a wooden rod would not create a magnetic field at all. Adding a switch does not affect the strength of the electromagnet; it merely allows for control over the circuit.