- 1). Cut the wire about six inches from one end, using the snipping part of the wire strippers. Wind the longer piece of wire around the nail, starting at one end and working to the other. Make the winding tight and ensure that the loops touch each other. Leave a few inches of wire unwound on each end. The iron in the nail is easily magnetized and will greatly magnify the strength of your electromagnet.
- 2). Remove about one inch of insulation from both ends of the coil with the wire strippers. Attach alligator clips to both ends. Attach one of the trailing ends of the coil to one of the terminals of the switch. Strip about one inch of insulation from both ends of the short wire. Attach alligator clips to both ends. Attach one end of this short wire to the other terminal of the switch. Attach the other end of the wire to the negative terminal of the battery.
- 3). Attach the other trailing end of the coil to the positive terminal of the battery. Check that all of your connections are making contact. Close the switch and test the power of your electromagnet by picking up small metal objects with it. Using the pointy end of the nail will produce the best results, since it is where most of the magnetic field is concentrated.
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