I am going to test the strength of my electromagnet by seeing how many paperclips it will hold. This is being done because it will be an accurate measurement of how strong the magnet is, and I can take off and add on paperclips, depending on the strength of the magnet.
Plan
For this experiment, I aim to conduct a simple plan, which should help me complete the task successfully.
1.Get out apparatus.
2. Set up as below
3. Do the experiment three times.
4. Clear away experiment.
Diagram
Safety
It is important to ensure that safety is considered in an experiment like this. Electricity is being used, so there should be no water around and the pupils should have dry hands. The power supply should be set at a low level, with bags packed under the table. Everything should be cleared off the desk, and the teacher should check that the circuit is set up properly before letting the experiment commence. As soon as the experiment is completed, the pupils should turn of the power supply and pack away. I will make sure all wires are properly connected.
Prediction
I predict that as the current increases, so will the electromagnetic fields. I believe this because I think that it is a proportional experiment and when the strength of the current is increased, the strength of the domains that are pointing in one particular direction will also be increased.
Conclusion
From this experiment, we found out that as the current was increased, so was the number of paper clips that stayed on the electromagnet. The pattern that emerged was that as the current passed through the metal bar, the paperclips attracted, because it became magnetic. He more current that was put through the electromagnet, the more paper clips were picked up. When the power was turned on, the domains all pointed in the same direction, therefore meaning that it was magnetised. The Osubstance O is magnetised at the core of the metal and this causes the paperclips to stick to the metal, due to the positioning of the domains. I had no anomalous results. If I doubled the current, I think that the number of paperclips that attracted would double. I originally predicted this would happen.
Evaluation
I think our experiment worked well because we got the results that we wanted. To improve our experiment, I think that I could have done it more times to get abetter scope for an average of results. I did not get any anomalous results. I think that my results were reasonably reliable. I completed the task three times, and therefore could take an average and get decent results. For them to be very reliable, I think that I could have repeated the experiment more.
I made sure that my results were accurate by using the same equipment each time. This meant that any faults would be the same on each experiment. We made sure that everything on each attempt was exactly the same.
To extend upon the experiment that I have completed, I think that I could have done all of the factors which affect electromagnetism. I would have then had a broader range of results from which I could analyse.
