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In this activity about electricity and magnetism, learners discover how a doorbell works. A coil of wire with current flowing through it forms an electromagnet that acts similar to a bar magnet. The coil will magnetize an iron nail and attract it in a remarkably vigorous way.
- 10 to 30 minutes
- 10 to 30 minutes
- $5 - $10 per group of students
- Ages 8 - 14
- Activity
- English
Quick Guide
Materials List (per group of students)
- 40 feet (12 m) of insulated bell wire
- A plastic or cardboard tube 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 cm) long and about 1/4 inch (6 mm) in diameter
- A large battery, 6 volts or more (An ordinary 1.5-volt D battery will work, but may go dead very quickly and will require more coils to get the same effect.)
- The largest iron nail that will fit in the tube loosely
- Adult help
Subjects
-
Physical Sciences
-
Electricity and Magnetism
- Electric Charges and Currents
- Electromagnetic Fields
-
Structure and Properties of Matter
- Elementary Particles and Nuclear Physics
-
Electricity and Magnetism
-
The Nature of Science
-
The Scientific Process
- Conducting Investigations
-
The Scientific Process
Audience
To use this activity, learners need to:
- see
- touch
Learning styles supported:
- Involves hands-on or lab activities
Other
This resource is part of:
Access Rights:
- Free access
By:
Rights:
- All rights reserved, The Exploratorium,
Funding Sources:
- National Science Foundation
- California Department of Education
- NEC Foundation of America