Make a basic electromagnet

2

electronicz says: Apr 12, 2012. 2:28 PM

Is it possible to direct the electromagnetic field. If so how?

chalky says: Jan 26, 2008. 2:55 PM

hey that's pretty cool!!! so technically the more voltage the stronger the magnet??

164

Kiteman in reply to chalkyJan 27, 2008. 7:51 AM

And the more turns on the coil and the closer together they are as well. That's why commercial transformers (in wall-warts and the like) use very thin enamelled wire, because the enamel is thinner than PVC insulation, so the wires can be crammed closer together.

alsports2000 in reply to KitemanJul 12, 2011. 11:46 AM

Greetings wiseman: I've read that overheating is a common problem when using electromagnets, is there a way to keep them cool or just turn it on and off when they get too hot???. Thanks. AL.

ihaveguitarskills! in reply to alsports2000Dec 19, 2011. 4:58 PM

i bet u can make a card board ice holder that u can hot glue or something to the side. maybe the side that is next to the batteries/device should be 3-5 peices of paper. if so, put the ice in a bag.

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Kiteman in reply to alsports2000Jul 12, 2011. 11:49 AM

Fan blowing over a heat-sink? Turn the power down?

alsports2000 in reply to KitemanJul 14, 2011. 9:06 PM

Greetings Kiteman: Just a quick question, how are the wires on both ends of the battery supposed to be secured???. Does it matter if they are taped or do they need to be secured in another manner????.. Thanks. AL.

alsports2000 in reply to KitemanJul 8, 2011. 1:47 PM

Kiteman: Would using an earth magnet instead of a nail to make an electromagnet be a good idea??. I know from what I've read here that dealing with the overheating of an electromagnet is a problem but please give me your advise. Thank you wiseman. AL.

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Kiteman in reply to alsports2000Jul 8, 2011. 2:01 PM

Not for making an electromagnet, no, mainly because you can't switch a rare-earth magnet off.

alsports2000 in reply to KitemanJul 8, 2011. 2:15 PM

Why didn't I think of that?? You don't have to answer that wiseman and thank you for taking the time to respond to my inquiry. AL.

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Kiteman in reply to alsports2000Jul 8, 2011. 2:25 PM

Any time.

3

szechuan53 in reply to KitemanJul 29, 2009. 10:34 AM

how does the size of the metal within the coil affect the strength?

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Kiteman in reply to szechuan53Jul 29, 2009. 12:25 PM

That's a really good question for a science fair project, so I'm not going to tell you. The variables to think about, though, are the length of the core and the diameter of the core.

3

szechuan53 in reply to KitemanAug 2, 2009. 8:52 PM

yay science fairs thanks for pointing that out, if you hadn't I would probably have just googled it, but now i have a science project for this year. so dimensions are the only factors I should worry about, not density, electrical conductivity, diamagnetism, or something else?

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Kiteman in reply to szechuan53Aug 4, 2009. 3:45 AM

The more things you think about, the more complex your project, and the harder it is to assign effect to cause. Stick to a single variable at a time, you get decent graphs and a decent result.

1

chriskarr in reply to KitemanNov 29, 2008. 8:26 PM

But, Kiteman, I thought it was the amperage that induces magnetism, and not the voltage. That's why, even though the voltage is high, a wall transformer that puts out 10kV DC and 23mA won't have the same effect as a car battery that can put out 20(?) amps at twelve volts.

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Kiteman in reply to chriskarrNov 30, 2008. 1:54 AM

Any electric wire carrying current has an associated magnetic field per unit length. You only notice it when you coil the wire to concentrate the field. The more coils, the greater the length of wire is gathered into the magnet. The greater the length of wire, the more field is concentrated in the magnet.

1

chriskarr in reply to KitemanNov 30, 2008. 8:21 AM

Well, then why is it that these coil-gun makers use capacitors (which up the amperage, not the voltage) to increase the shot-length of their guns?

164

Kiteman in reply to chriskarrNov 30, 2008. 10:16 AM

When did I say it was only the number of turns that affected the strength?

Read my first reply above - "And the more turns on the coil and the closer together they are as well."

The three main variables are power (current x voltage), number of turns and the closeness of the turns in the coil. The diameter of the coil will also affect things, but not so much.

1

chriskarr in reply to KitemanNov 30, 2008. 1:22 PM

I took your saying "Any electric wire carrying current has an associated magnetic field per unit length" as a completely literal statement and understood what you were saying as any electric wire carrying current has an associated magnetic field (regardless of voltage/amperage) per unit length." and I didn't understand why you'd be saying that, especially with the obvious knowledge I've seen you display in the past. Excuse me for my misconception.

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Kiteman in reply to chriskarrNov 30, 2008. 2:07 PM

Ah! Confusion sorted.

chalky in reply to KitemanNov 30, 2008. 2:20 PM

- .... .- -. -.- | .... . .- ...- . -. ... | ..-. --- .-. | - .... .- - | .-.. --- .-..

Mario1 in reply to chalkyDec 2, 2008. 11:43 AM

THANKHEAVENSFORTHATLOL i decoded it :)

Mario1 in reply to Mario1Dec 2, 2008. 11:45 AM

.. / .- -- / - .... . / -... . ... -

chalky in reply to Mario1Dec 2, 2008. 2:25 PM

-.-- --- ..- | -.-. . .-. - .- .. -. .-.. -.-- | .- .-. . | -- -.-- | ..-. .-. .. . -. -..

Mario1 in reply to chalkyDec 5, 2008. 9:25 AM

-.-- . ... / .. / .- --

6

CybergothiChe in reply to Mario1Dec 20, 2008. 9:32 PM

Morse would be rolling in his grave... -. .. -.-. . / --. --- .. -. --. / .-- .. - ..../ - .... . / --- .-.. -.. / -- --- .-. ... . / -.-. --- -.. . / -... ..- - / .--. .-.. . .- ... . / .. -. -.-. .-.. ..- . / .- / - .-. .- -. ... .-.. .- - .. --- -. / -... . -.-. .- ..- ... . / .. / .- -- / .- .-.. .-- .- -.-- ... / .... .- ...- .. -. --. / - --- / - . .-.. .-.. / - .... --- ... . / .-.. --- --- -.- .. -. --. / --- ...- . .-. / -- -.-- / ... .... --- ..- .-.. -.. . .-. / .-- .... .- - / .. - / .- .-.. .-.. / -- . .- -. ... /

Mario1 in reply to CybergothiCheJan 9, 2009. 4:28 PM

--- -.- / .. / .-- .. .-.. .-..

ok i will :<

2

harley_rly in reply to Mario1Mar 14, 2009. 9:09 PM

i only know 3 letters :( .-, ..., and --- which means i can only spell 1 phrase(---...---) and 3 words(.-)(.-/...)and(.-/.../...)lol

7

Derin in reply to harley_rlyJun 9, 2009. 7:20 AM

_ _ _ _ _ . _ . . . . . _ . _ . _ _ _ _ . . . _ . _ . _ _ _ _ . . . . _ . . _ . _ . . _ . . . . . . . . . _ _ . _ . . . . . . _ _ . . . . _ _ . _ _ . . _ _ . _ _ . _ _ . _ _ _ . _ . . . _ . _ . . . _ . _ . . _ . . . . _ _ . _ _ . _ . . _ _ . _ . _ _ _ _ _ . . . _ . _ . . _ . . . . _ _ . _ . . . _ . _ . . _ . . . . _ _ . _ . . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ . _ . . . . . . . . . . . . _ _ _ . _ . . . _ _ _ _ _ . _ . _ . _ . _ _ _ _ _ _ . _ . . . . _ . . . . _ . . . . . . . . . . _ _ . _ . . . . _ _ . . . . . _ _ . . . . _ . . . . _ . . . . _ . _ _ _ . _ . _ . . . . . . . . . _ _ . . . . . . . . _ _ _ . .

EXPLANATION:

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o=_ _ _
r=. _ .
s=. . .
e=.

c=_ . _ .
o=_ _ _
d=_ . .
e=.

c=_ . _ .
o=_ _ _
n=_ .
v=. . . _
e=.
r=. _ .
t=_
e=.
r=. _ .
s=. . .

s=. . .
u=. . _
c=_ . _ .
h=. . . .

a=. _
t=_

h=. . . .
t=_
t=_
p=. _ _ .
:=(None)
/=(None)
/=(None)
w=. _ _
w=. _ _
w=. _ _
.=(None)
j=. _ _ _
a=. _
v=. . . _
a=. _
s=. . .
c=_ . _ .
r=. _ .
i=. .
p=. _ _ .
t=_
k=_ . _
i=. .
t=_
.=(None)
c=_ . _ .
o=_ _ _
m=_ _
/=(None)
s=. . .
c=_ . _ .
r=. _ .
i=. .
p=. _ _ .
t=_
/=(None)
s=. . .
c=_ . _ .
r=. _ .
i=. .
p=. _ _ .
t=_
2=. . _ _ _
/=(None)
m=_ _
o=_ _ _
r=. _ .
s=. . .
e=.
.=(None)
s=. . .
h=. . . .
t=_
m=_ _
l=. _ . .

w=. _ _
o=_ _ _
r=. _ .
k=_ . _

w=. _ _
o=_ _ _
n=_ .
d=_ . .
e=.
r=. _ .
s=. . .

t=_
h=. . . .
i=. .
s=. . .

w=. _ _
a=. _
s=. . .

w=. _ _
h=. . . .
a=. _
t=_

i=. .

u=. . _
s=. . .
e=.
d=_ . .

f=. . _ .
o=_ _ _
r=. _ .

t=_
h=. . . .
i=. .
s=. . .

m=_ _
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s=. . .
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a=. _
g=_ _ .
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2

harley_rly in reply to DerinJun 20, 2009. 1:20 AM

yeah...i actually started learning it at 1 point though...then i quit

chalky in reply to harley_rlyJun 20, 2009. 4:44 AM

lol:)

1

chriskarr in reply to chalkyNov 30, 2008. 3:45 PM

What is this?

1

chriskarr in reply to chriskarrNov 30, 2008. 3:46 PM

(P.S.) That means the confusion is back?

164

Kiteman in reply to chalkyNov 30, 2008. 2:31 PM

_Show-off!

chalky in reply to KitemanDec 1, 2008. 3:31 PM

I thought,seen as though i started off the confusing debate on electro magnetism it would be appropriate for me to end it with more confusion lol:) ps/ did you manage to decipher my cryptic Morse code message Kiteman?

164

Kiteman in reply to chalkyDec 2, 2008. 2:38 AM

Good grief, how old do people think I am??

38

Goodhart in reply to KitemanMar 15, 2009. 5:54 AM

Old? Many of the licenses for short wave radio still require the knowledge of M.C. and at a certain speed (send / receive). _{^{_{or did I just miss the entire context of the discussion?}}}

chalky in reply to GoodhartMar 15, 2009. 6:08 AM

lol no it started straying off topic a long time a go so i just thrown in some morse code for more confusion lol:)

7

Derin in reply to chalkyJun 9, 2009. 7:21 AM

_ _ _ _ _ . _ . . . . . _ . _ . _ _ _ _ . . . _ . _ . _ _ _ _ . . . . _ . . _ . _ . . _ . . . . . . . . . _ _ . _ . . . . . . _ _ . . . . _ _ . _ _ . . _ _ . _ _ . _ _ . _ _ _ . _ . . . _ . _ . . . _ . _ . . _ . . . . _ _ . _ _ . _ . . _ _ . _ . _ _ _ _ _ . . . _ . _ . . _ . . . . _ _ . _ . . . _ . _ . . _ . . . . _ _ . _ . . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ . _ . . . . . . . . . . . . _ _ _ . _ . . . _ _ _ _ _ . _ . _ . _ . _ _ _ _ _ _ . _ . . . . _ . . . . _ . . . . . . . . . . _ _ . _ . . . . _ _ . . . . . _ _ . . . . _ . . . . _ . . . . _ . _ _ _ . _ . _ . . . . . . . . . _ _ . . . . . . . . _ _ _ . . EXPLANATION: you dont need explanations