Physical Science · Electricity & Magnetism
Build an Electromagnet: Current, Coils & Magnetic Strength
Build a simple electromagnet and use fair tests to investigate how electric current and coil turns affect magnetic strength.
Lesson plan
Build an Electromagnet: Current, Coils & Magnetic Strength
A step-by-step guide to help you teach this lesson.
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Lesson overview
What students will learn
- Explain that electric current in a wire coil can create a magnetic effect.
- Use a fair test to compare how changing coil turns affects an electromagnet.
Key science ideas
- When current flows through a wire coil, the coil produces a magnetic effect.
- Wrapping the coil around an iron core can make the magnetic effect easier to observe.
- Changing the number of coil turns can change the strength of an electromagnet.
Lesson at a glance
- Grade 4
- 50 min
- ~12 min prep
- 6 materials
What’s included
- Lesson Plan
- Investigation
- Teacher Slides
- Printable Worksheet
- Teacher Answer Key
- Interactive Activity
- Vocabulary