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When electric current flows through a wire, it produces a magnetic field. We can use this knowledge to create electromagnets. An electromagnet is a magnet that attracts magnetic materials due the electric current flowing through it.
Electromagnets are usually made by coiling a wire around a magnetic material such as iron or steel. Each coil around the magnetic object increases the strength of the magnetic field.
Electromagnets are particularly useful as the magnetic property can be easily switched on and off by controlling the flow of the electric current. Many appliances and devices we use contain electromagnets. They can be found in speakers, electric bells, electric motors, computer hard disks and MRI machines.
Strength of Electromagnets
A number of factors can affect the strength of the magnetic field produced by an electromagnet. One way to increase the strength of an electromagnet is to increase the number of coils of wire. The more coils of wire, the stronger the electromagnet.
A coiled wire alone will still create an electromagnet. However, coiling the wire around a magnetic material increases the strength of the electromagnet.
We can also increase the strength of an electromagnet by adding more batteries in series. An electromagnet with two batteries in series will have a stronger magnetic field than an electromagnet with a single battery.