Multiple Select

Question

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.

A. He can use a thicker piece of copper wire
B. He can reverse the orientation of the battery
C. He can replace the iron bolt with a wooden rod.
D. He can add a switch between the battery and the iron bolt.
E. He can replace the 1.5-volt battery with a battery of higher voltage.

Answer 1

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

A. He can use a thicker piece of copper wire.
E. He can replace the 1.5-volt battery with a battery of higher voltage.
D. He can add a switch between the battery and the iron bolt.

Explanation:

• A: Using thicker wire reduces resistance, allowing more current to flow, which increases the magnetic field strength.
• E: Increasing voltage can also increase the current flowing through the wire, leading to a stronger electromagnet.
• D: A switch may not directly increase strength but allows better control over the electromagnet's activation, which could help in achieving optimal conditions for usage.

Incorrect Options:

• B: Reversing the battery's orientation does not increase strength; it simply changes the direction of the magnetic field but doesn’t make it stronger.
• C: Replacing the iron bolt with a wooden rod would weaken the electromagnet since wood is not a ferromagnetic material.

Thus, the correct answers to increase the strength of the electromagnet are A, E, and D.