An electromagnet
I can describe how to test the strength of an electromagnet.
An electromagnet
I can describe how to test the strength of an electromagnet.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- When there is an electric current in a wire, there is a magnetic field around the wire.
- An electromagnet is a magnet that can be turned on with an electric current, and turned off.
- The magnetic field of an electromagnet is similar to the field around a bar magnet.
- A soft iron core in an electromagnet becomes magnetised and adds to the strength of field when the electromagnet is on.
- When there is an electric current in a coil of wire, the magnetic field around each loop adds to make a stronger field.
Keywords
Coil of an electromagnet - is an insulated wire wound into the shape of a spring.
Turn of wire - is a single loop of wire in a coil.
Soft iron - is very pure iron that cannot be made into a permanent magnet.
Directly proportional to - describes the relationship between two variables, in which doubling the value of one variable doubles the value of the other.
Error bars - show the uncertainty of each measurement on a graph.
Common misconception
A magnetic field is the same as the electric field around a charged object.
Demonstrate that an electromagnet does not attract small pieces of tissue paper, as a balloon with a static charge can do.
To help you plan your year 11 physics lesson on: An electromagnet, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 11 physics lesson on: An electromagnet, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
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The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
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Explore more key stage 4 physics lessons from the Electromagnetism unit, dive into the full secondary physics curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
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Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
Exit quiz
6 Questions