Published: 2023-03-27 15:18:37 • Daniel Gårdefelt
Making a magnet from scratch can be a fun and educational activity. Magnets have many uses, from powering electric motors to sticking notes on the fridge. Today we will go through how to easily create your own magnet.
Materials you need:
Nail or bar of iron
Electrical copper wire (preferably a D battery)
Make sure you have all the necessary components. Remove any rust or debris from the iron nail or rod with sandpaper and make sure the copper wire is clean and straight.
Step 1: Wrap the thread
Wrap the copper wire as tightly as possible around the nail or rod. It is important that the thread is wound as tightly and evenly as possible. Leave a few cm of wire on each end of the nail or rod for battery connection.
Step 3: Build a circuit
Connect one end of the cable to the positive terminal of the battery and the other end to the negative terminal of the battery after the cable is wrapped around the nail or pole. This will generate a magnetic field.
Step 4: Examination of the magnet
See if the magnet attracts small metal objects, such as paper clips, by placing it near them. If it works, you have now quickly constructed your own magnet from scratch.
Tip:
If the wire is not sufficiently wound, the magnetic field will be insufficient to attract metal objects.
Make sure the connection between the cable and the battery terminals is good. Loose connections can prevent the magnet from working.
There are other varieties of wire, including aluminum and silver, but copper wire is the most popular.
Precautions:
To avoid injury, keep the wire away from your face and body while wrapping it around the nail or rod.
If the wire becomes heated during the creation of the magnet, the procedure must be stopped immediately, allow the wire to cool before continuing.
Building a magnet from scratch can be a fun and educational activity. With the help of some simple materials that you often have at home, it is possible to make a magnet that can attract small metal objects.