You will need:
- Batteries: one 9V, one 6V, one 1.5V
- Battery terminals
- One 60cm insulated wire length
- One 20cm long Steel rod
- Paperclips or measured iron weights
Strip 2cm off both ends of the insulated wire
Wrap the wire tightly around the iron bar, keeping the wire loops next to each other. Do this at least 40 times!
Connect the ends of the wire to the battery terminal and connect the battery.
Try to pick up paperclips using the iron bar. How many can you pick up?
Does the size of the battery make a difference on the amount of weight you can pick up?
Get the Electricity & Magnetism Unit of Work here!
- How does electricity actually flow?
- What makes magnets become magnetic?
- Why is there electromagnetism and what does this tell us about electricity & magnetism?
- From series & parallel circuits to conductors & insulators, there’s a lot to explore & learn!
Includes cross-curricular teaching ideas, student quizzes, a sample marking rubric, scope & sequences & more.
School science visits since 2004!
– Curriculum-linked & award-winning incursions.
– Over 40 primary & high school programs to choose from.
– Designed by experienced educators.
– Over 2 million students reached.
– Face to face incursions & online programs available.
– Early learning centre visits too!
Online courses for teachers & parents
– Help students learn how science really works
Why Does This Happen?
A magnetic field occurs when electricity passes through a wire. This magnetic field surrounds the wire. Wrapping the wire in a tight coil concentrates the magnetic field in the centre of the coil. The magnetic field faces the same direction throughout the iron bar and you can pick up iron objects.
Variables to test
- What happens if you wind the coil of wire the opposite way?
- What happens when you change the battery voltage (do not exceed 9V)
- Does the thickness of the wire make a difference?
- What happens if you use uninsulated wire instead?
Create a Buzz!
Years 3 to 6
Maximum 30 students
Workshop or show (NSW & VIC)
60 or 90 minutes
Online Class Available
STEM Full Day Accelerator - Primary
Designed from real classroom experiences, this modular day helps you create consistently effective science learning that directly address the new curriculum with easily accessible and cost-effective materials.
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