Greg 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. Which of the following is NOT a way Greg can improve the strength of his electromagnet?

Question

Responses

He can use a longer piece of wire that wraps more times around the bolt.
He can use a longer piece of wire that wraps more times around the bolt.

He can replace the 1.5-volt battery with a battery of higher voltage.
He can replace the 1.5-volt battery with a battery of higher voltage.

He can use a thicker piece of copper wire.
He can use a thicker piece of copper wire.

He can reverse the orientation of the battery.

Answer 1

The option that is NOT a way Greg can improve the strength of his electromagnet is:

He can reverse the orientation of the battery.

Reversing the orientation of the battery will not increase the strength of the electromagnet; it will merely change the direction of the magnetic field. The other options—using a longer piece of wire, using a higher voltage battery, and using a thicker piece of copper wire—can all potentially increase the strength of the electromagnet.