Question

A student designs an electromagnet, as shown in the picture. The electromagnet is only able to pick up 1 paper clip. List 2 modifications he could make to his electromagnet in order to enable it to pick up more paper clips.

Answer 1

The answer is;

1. Increase the number of coils around the nail
2. Increase the current on the wire coils.

The nail becomes magnetic through a phenomenon called ferromagnetism. The electric field around the coils, as the current passes, cause an alignment of electrons on the nail and cause it to have magnetic properties. Iron, nickel, and cobalt are highly ferromagnetic materials.