SSIS Lab Report

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Title of investigation: Electromagnets

Name: Sofia

Class: 8A

Date: 10/7/2024
A. EXPLORATION

RESEARCH QUESTION

How many clips will the electromagnet pick up when various coils are wrapped around it?

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Electromagnet:
- An electromagnet consists of a coil of wire (often copper) wrapped around a core material
(commonly iron). When current flows through the coil, it generates a magnetic field.

Magnetic Field Strength:

- The strength of the magnetic field (B) produced by an electromagnet is influenced by:
- Number of Turns (N): More turns increase the magnetic field strength.
- Current: Higher current increases the magnetic field.
- Permeability of the Core Material: Materials like iron greatly enhance the magnetic field
compared to air or other materials.

Magnetic Force!
- The force exerted by the electromagnet on a ferromagnetic object (like paper clips) is related to the
strength of the magnetic field and the characteristics of the object. A stronger magnetic field can pick
up more clips.

HYPOTHESIS

Increasing the number of turns in the coil will increase the number of clips the electromagnet can pick
up, due to the enhanced magnetic field strength generated by a greater number of coil turns.

CONTROLLING VARIABLES

Independent How this variable will be changed? What apparatus will be used to
Variable change the variable?

The number of This variable will be changed by Insulated copper wire to wrap
turns in the coil constructing coils with different numbers around the core, a power supply to
wrapped around of turns, such as 5, 10, and 15 turns, while provide consistent current, an
the keeping other factors constant. ammeter to measure current, a core
electromagnet. material (such as iron), and a set of
paper clips to test the
electromagnet's strength.
Dependant How this variable will be measured? What apparatus will be used to
Variable measure it?
 Include a digital scale or balance, a
The number of By counting the number of paper clips ruler or measuring tape, and a clear
paper clips the electromagnet successfully lifts after surface or container to easily count
picked up by the it is energized for a specified duration at and collect the clips after testing.
electromagnet. each coil configuration.

Control How would this variable be controlled? How each variable below will affect
Variables Describe how you will keep them constant the results? Discuss the science idea
behind the factor you have chosen.
Core Material: I will use the same iron core for all trials. Using a core (like iron) will
The type of core This will involve ensuring that the core significantly increase the number of
material used remains unchanged throughout the clips the electromagnet can pick up
should remain experiment. By maintaining this single compared to using a non- core (like
constant (e.g., core material across all experiments, I plastic). Some Materials have high
iron) throughout can isolate the effect of the coil turns on permeability, which means they can
all tests. the electromagnet's performance. concentrate and strengthen
magnetic fields.

Coil I will use the same length of coil for all Using the same length of coil for all
Dimensions: The trails. This will ensure that the reliability trails will ensure the accuracy of the
diameter and of the experiment remains unchanged. experiment and avoids having to do
length of the coil the experiment once more.
should remain
the same across
different turns.

MATERIALS & APPARATUS

Materials and Apparatus Quantity

Battery 2

Coils 1

Paper clips 15

Iron Nail 1

Wires 2
EXPERIMENTAL SET-UP

SAFETY

Do not poke the iron nail into your eye. This will lead to injury.

B. ANALYSIS

TABLE OF RESULTS

Number of coils Number of clips Battery

5 3 2
10 4 2
15 5 2
5 1 1
10 1 1
15 2 1

DATA ANALYSIS

ALL DATA IN THE EXPERIMENT WERE WRITTEN CAREFULLY AND AFTER MANY TRIES
OF THE EXPERIMENT. THE DATA WAS CORRECT, ALTHOUGH SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT
TO OTHER PEOPLE’S, STILL CORRECT.

ANOMALOUS RESULTS

One of the results, 1 battery and 10 coils picked up the same number of coils as the one with 5 coils.
C. EVALUATION & CONCLUSION

CONCLUSION

THE MORE AMOUNT OF COILS, THE MORE AMOUNT OF PAPER CLIPS THE
ELECTROMAGNET WILL PICK UP. MY HYPOTHESIS WAS CORRECT.

VALIDITY

RELIABILITY

I DID THE EXPERIMENT THREE TIMES TO ENSURE THE RELIABILITY. IN THE END, ALL
RESULTS WERE THE SAME.

SUGGESTION FOR IMPROVEMENT

Weakness in method and/or apparatus Suggestion for improvement

I could have used a stronger force to coil the wire
iron nail coiling around the iron nail, as some of the coils were sticking
out a bit too much.

Magnet I could have added one more magnet to make the

results even more clearer.

FURTHER EXPERIMENT TO EXTEND THIS INVESTIGATION

I COULD EXPERIMENT ON HOW MANY IRON CLIPS FOUR ELECTROMAGNETS COULD

PICK UP.

CONCLUDING REMARKS
CONCLUDING REMARKS
Relationship to hypothesis and Research Question - do your results and validity/reliability of the
experiment support or disprove your initial hypothesis

What can you say about your hypothesis?

A. My hypothesis is supported

B. My hypothesis should be changed to ………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………

C. My results do not allow me to choose A or B ( can you suggest further experiments or

improvements to improve your investigation

……………………………………………………………………… need to include references