Question

Draw a labeled diagram to show how an electromagnet is made.

Answer 1

1. In an electromagnet, a soft iron core is wrapped with wire of copper insulation.
2. The wire is connected to a battery and a current is passed through it
3. The electromagnet works on the principle of the magnetic effect of electric current
4. When no current is passed through a wire the atoms in the electric core are randomly arranged and cancel out each other's magnetic field
5. Therefore there is a net-zero magnetic field when no current is passed through the wire
6. When an electric current is passed through a wire the atoms of the iron core orient themselves such that they point in the same direction
7. This individual magnetic field when aligned produces a strong magnetic field in the iron core
8. As the current is increased the magnetic field in the iron core increases reaching a saturation point after some point.
9. Electromagnets are used in loudspeakers and generators.
10. Given below is a diagram of an electromagnet.