19

Lesson 19 of 84 ยท Energy

Experiment

Electromagnets

What You'll Learn

A force is a push or pull that can change an object's motion, shape, or direction. Forces are measured in Newtons and can act through contact or at a distance.

Key Words

  • work
  • power
  • simple machine

Materials Needed

  • stopwatch
  • pencils
  • toy cars
  • ramps
  • string

Safety First

  • Be careful with scissors โ€” ask an adult for help if needed.

Steps

Step 1 โ€” Read

Review the background information on Energy before starting.

Step 2 โ€” Do

Build an electromagnet by wrapping insulated wire around a nail and connecting it to a battery. Test how many paper clips it can pick up. Try adding more wire coils.

Step 3 โ€” Observe

Draw a detailed diagram of what you observe.

Step 4 โ€” Record

Write a conclusion: what did your results show? Did they match your prediction?

Check Your Understanding

Question 1

1 of 3

What is a fulcrum?