Discovery of Electromagnetism

History of magnetism produced by electricity.

 Describe the accidental discovery of electromagnetism.
 Explain how Oersted found the direction of the magnetic field around a wire carrying
current.
 State Faraday’s law.

Tamara made the simple device in this picture for science class. She wrapped a wire around a
nail and connected the ends of the wire to the terminals of a battery. The nail is attracting paper
clips, so it appears to have become magnetized. The device isn’t complicated, but it shows a very
important relationship.
Q: What does Tamara’s device show?
A: The device shows that you can use electricity to create magnetism.

Electricity and Magnetism

Magnetism produced by electricity is called electromagnetism. Today, electromagnetismis used
in many electric devices. However, until electromagnetism was discovered, scientists thought
that electricity and magnetism were unrelated. A Danish scientist named Hans Christian Oersted
(pictured in the Figure below) changed all that. He made the important discovery that electric
current creates a magnetic field. But like many other important discoveries in science, Oersted’s
discovery was just a lucky accident.

An Accidental Discovery
In 1820, Oersted was presenting a demonstration to some science students. Ironically, he was
trying to show them that electricity and magnetism are not related. He placed a wire with electric
current flowing through it next to a compass, which has a magnetic needle. As he expected, the
needle of the compass didn’t move. It just kept pointing toward Earth’s north magnetic pole.
After the demonstration, a curious student held the wire near the compass again, but in a
different direction. To Oersted’s surprise, the needle of the compass swung toward the wire so it
was no longer pointing north. Oersted was intrigued. He turned off the current in the wire to see
what would happen to the compass needle. The needle swung back to its original position,
pointing north once again. Oersted had discovered that an electric current creates a magnetic
 field. The magnetic field created by the current was strong enough to attract the needle of the
nearby compass.

Oersted Learns More

Oersted wanted to learn more about the magnetic field created by a current. He placed a compass
at different locations around a wire with current flowing through it. You can see what he found
in the Figure below. The lines of magnetic force circle around the wire in a counterclockwise
direction. You can learn more about Oersted’s investigations at the URL below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BM4m2GId3F8

From Magnets to Electricity
Just about a decade after Oersted discovered that electric current can produce a magnetic field,
an English scientist named Michael Faraday discovered that the opposite is also true. A magnetic
field can produce an electric current. This is known as Faraday’s law. The process by which a
magnetic field produces current is called electromagnetic induction. It occurs when a conductor,
such as a wire, crosses lines of force in a magnetic field. This can happen when a wire is moving
relative to a magnet or a magnet is moving relative to a wire.

Summary
 Electricity can be used to produce a magnetic field. Magnetism produced by electricity
is called electromagnetism.
 In 1820, Oersted discovered by accident that electric current creates a magnetic field.
Prior to that, scientists thought that electricity and magnetism were unrelated.
 Oersted also used a compass to find the direction of the magnetic field around a wire
carrying current.
 Around 1830, Michael Faraday discovered that a magnetic field can generate an
electric current if a conductor crosses the lines of force in a magnetic field. This is
known as Faraday’s law.
Explore More
At the following URL, review Oersted’s discovery of electromagnetism. Also read how the
famous magician Houdini used electromagnetism in one of his most famous magic tricks. Then
 take the quiz at the bottom of the Web
page.http://weeklysciencequiz.blogspot.com/2011/10/discovery-of-electromagnetism.html

Review
1. What observation led Oersted to conclude that electricity and magnetism are related?
2. How did Oersted find the direction of the magnetic field around a wire carrying
current?
3. What did Faraday discover?

Electromagnetism
Magnetism produced by an electric current; uses and introduction to the right hand rule.
 Define electromagnetism.
 State the right hand rule.
 Explain why electromagnetism is very useful.

What a clever dog! He wants to go inside to get out of the rain, so he’s ringing the doorbell. Does
your home have a doorbell? Did you ever wonder how a doorbell works? The answer is
electromagnetism.

What Is Electromagnetism?
Electromagnetism is magnetism produced by an electric current. When electric current flows
through a wire, it creates a magnetic field that surrounds the wire in circles. You can see this in
the diagram below. Note that electric current is conventionally shown moving from positive to
negative electric potential, as in this diagram. However, electrons in current actually flow in the
opposite direction, from negative to positive potential.

Q: If more current flows through a wire, how might this affect the magnetic field surrounding
the wire?
A: With more current, the magnetic field is stronger.

Right Hand Rule

The direction of the magnetic field created when current flows through a wire depends on the
direction of the current. A simple rule, called the right hand rule, makes it easy to find the
direction of the magnetic field if the direction of the current is known. The rule is illustrated in
 the Figure below. When the thumb of the right hand is pointing in the same direction as the
current, the fingers of the right hand curl around the wire in the direction of the magnetic field.
You can see the right hand rule in action at this URL:http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=eK1Ar5WPJj8.

Uses of Electromagnetism
Electromagnetism is used not only in a doorbells but in many other electric devices as well, such
as electric motors and loudspeakers. It is also used to store information on computer disks. An
important medical use of electromagnetism is magnetic resonanceimaging (MRI). This is a
technique for making images of the inside of the body in order to diagnose diseases or injuries.
Magnetism created with electric current is so useful because it can be turned on or off simply by
turning the current on or off. The strength of the magnetic field is also easy to control by
changing the amount of current. You can’t do either of these things with a regular magnet.

Summary
 Electromagnetism is magnetism produced by an electric current. Current flowing
through a wire creates a magnetic field that surrounds the wire in concentric circles.
 When the thumb of the right hand is pointing in the same direction as the current
flowing through a wire, the fingers of the right hand curl around the wire in the
direction of the magnetic field.
 Electromagnetism is very useful because it can be turned on or off by turning the
current on or off, and it can be made stronger or weaker by using more or less
current.
Explore More
Watch the video about electromagnetism at the following URL. Then complete the task at the
end of the video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSge-qDcS4Y

Review
1. Define electromagnetism.
2. Apply the right hand rule to determine the direction of the magnetic field around the
wire shown below. The arrow inside the wire shows the direction of electric current
flowing through the wire. Add more arrows to the sketch to show the direction of the
magnetic field.
3. Why is electromagnetism more useful than regular magnetism?

Solenoid
A coil of wire with electric current flowing through it. Current flowing through the coil
produces a magnetic field.
 Describe a solenoid.
 Explain how to strengthen the magnetic field of a solenoid.
 List some uses of solenoids.

Splat! This paintball player took a direct hit! Did you ever play this extreme game? The trigger
on a paintball gun is electronic and uses a device called a solenoid.

What Is a Solenoid?
A solenoid is a coil of wire with electric current flowing through it. You can see a solenoid in
the Figure below. Current flowing through the coil produces a magnetic field that has north and
south poles. You can see an actual solenoid with a compass showing its magnetic north pole at
this URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgZHqfIBkUI.
Q: How is a solenoid like a bar magnet?
A: Like a bar magnet, a solenoid has north and south magnetic poles and is surrounded by a
magnetic field.

Strength of a Solenoid
Any wire with current flowing through it has a magnetic field. However, the magnetic field
around a coiled wire is stronger than the magnetic field around a straight wire. That’s because
each turn of the wire in the coil has its own magnetic field. Adding more turns to the coil of wire
increases the strength of the field. Increasing the amount of current flowing through the coil also
increases the strength of the magnetic field.

Uses of Solenoids
A solenoid is generally used to convert electromagnetic energy into motion. Solenoids are often
used in devices that need a sudden burst of power to move a specific part. In addition to paintball
markers, you can find solenoids in machines ranging from motor vehicles to electric
dishwashers. Another device that uses solenoids is pictured in theFigure below.

This pinball machine uses several solenoids to operate bumpers, switches, and other moving parts.

Summary
 A solenoid is a coil of wire with electric current flowing through it, giving it north and
south magnetic poles and a magnetic field.
 Using more turns of wire in the coil or more current increases the strength of the
solenoid’s magnetic field.
 A solenoid converts electromagnetic energy into motion, providing a burst of power
that can move a specific part of a device.
Explore More
At the following URL, explore the solenoid animation. Try varying the voltage and the direction
of the current. Observe how these changes affect the magnetic field. Write a paragraph to
summarize your observations. http://www.physics-chemistry-interactive-flash-animation.com/
electricity_electromagnetism_interactive/
solenoid_magnetic_field_current_poles_north_south.htm

Review
1. Describe a solenoid and its magnetic field.
2. Which solenoid pictured below has a stronger magnetic field? How do you know?

3. How are solenoids used?

Electromagnet
A solenoid wrapped around a ferromagnetic material. Current running through the wire
produces a N and S pole.
 Describe an electromagnet.
 Explain why electromagnets are very strong.

This crane is dangling a big round magnet that has picked up metal car parts in a junk yard. The
parts practically leap up to the magnet because it’s so strong. That’s because it’s an
electromagnet.

What Is an Electromagnet?
 An electromagnet is a solenoid wrapped around a bar of iron or other ferromagnetic material. A
solenoid is a coil of wire with electric current flowing through it. This gives the coil north and
south magnetic poles and a magnetic field. The magnetic field of the solenoid magnetizes the
iron bar by aligning its magnetic domains. You can see this in theFigure below. You can learn
how to make an electromagnet at this URL:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emlzh9XXWgQ

Strength of an Electromagnet
The combined magnetic force of the magnetized wire coil and iron bar makes an electromagnet
very strong. In fact, electromagnets are the strongest magnets made. An electromagnet is
stronger if there are more turns in the coil of wire or there is more current flowing through it. A
bigger bar or one made of material that is easier to magnetize also increases an electromagnet’s
strength. At the following URL, you can see an animation demonstrating how these factors affect
the strength of an electromagnet.http://www.schoolphysics.co.uk/animations/Electromagnet/
index.html

Easy On and Off

Besides their strength, another pro of electromagnets is the ability to control them by controlling
the electric current. Turning the current on or off turns the magnetic field on or off. The amount
of current flowing through the coil can also be changed to control the strength of the
electromagnet.
Q: Why might it be useful to be able to turn an electromagnet on and off?
A: Look back at the electromagnet hanging from the crane in the opening photo. It is useful to
turn on its magnetic field so it can pick up the metal car parts. It is also useful to turn off its
magnetic field so it can drop the parts into the train car.

Summary
 An electromagnet is a solenoid wrapped around a bar of iron or other ferromagnetic
material. The magnetic field of the solenoid magnetizes the iron bar.
 The combined magnetic force of the magnetized wire coil and iron bar makes an
electromagnet very strong.
 Electromagnets can be turned on or off and their strength can be changed by
controlling the electric current.
Explore More
 Experiment with the electromagnet simulation at the following URL. Then fill in the blanks in
the sentences below. http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/magnets-and-electromagnets
1. Increasing the number of loops in the wire coil __________ the strength of the
magnetic field.
2. Decreasing the voltage of the direct current __________ the strength of the magnetic
field.
3. Each time the alternating current changes direction, the magnetic field __________.
4. When the amplitude of the alternating current is greater, the strength of the magnetic
field is __________.
5. The more quickly the alternating current changes direction, the more quickly the
magnetic field __________.
Review
1. What is an electromagnet?
2. How could you increase the strength of an electromagnet?
3. Why are electromagnets the strongest of all magnets?
4. How could the crane operator in the opening photo cause the electromagnet to drop
the metal parts into the train car?

Electromagnetic Devices
Introduction to common electronic devices contain electromagnets.
 Define electromagnet and identify electromagnetic devices.
 Explain how a doorbell works.
 Outline how an electric motor changes electrical energy to kinetic energy.

The little boy on the left is pressing the doorbell on his playhouse. The doorbell is connected to a
battery, so it actually rings when he pushes the button. The little girl on the right is using a hand-
held fan to cool off on a hot day. The fan is also battery-operated, and the blades of the fan turn
in a blur of motion. What do the doorbell and fan have in common? Both of them work because
they contain electromagnets.

Devices with Electromagnets

Many common electric devices contain electromagnets. An electromagnet is a coil of wire
wrapped around a bar of iron or other ferromagnetic material. When electric current flows
through the wire, it causes the coil and iron bar to become magnetized. An electromagnethas
north and south magnetic poles and a magnetic field. Turning off the current turns off the
electromagnet. To understand how electromagnets are used in electric devices, we’ll focus on
two common devices: doorbells and electric motors like the one that turns the blades of a fan.
Q: Besides doorbells and fans, what are some other devices that contain electromagnets?
 A: Any device that has an electric motor contains electromagnets. Some other examples include
hairdryers, CD players, power drills, electric saws, and electric mixers.

How a Doorbell Works

The Figure below represents a simple doorbell. Like most doorbells, it has a button located by
the front door. Pressing the button causes two electric contacts to come together and complete an
electric circuit. In other words, the button is a switch. The circuit is also connected to a source of
current, an electromagnet, and a clapper that strikes a bell. You can see an animation of a
doorbell at this URL:http://www.schoolphysics.co.uk/animations/Electric_bell/index.html

What happens when current flows through the doorbell circuit?

 The electromagnet turns on, and its magnetic field attracts the clapper. This causes
the clapper to hit the bell, making it ring.
 Because the clapper is part of the circuit, when it moves to strike the bell, it breaks the
circuit. Without current flowing through the circuit, the electromagnet turns off, and the
clapper returns to its original position.
 When the clapper moves back to its original position, this closes the circuit again and
turns the electromagnet back on. The electromagnet again attracts the clapper, which
hits the bell once more.
 This sequence of events keeps repeating.
Q: How can you stop the sequence of events so the doorbell will stop ringing?
A: Stop pressing the button! This interrupts the circuit so no current can flow through it.

Electric Motor
An electric motor is a device that uses an electromagnet to change electrical energy to kinetic
energy. You can see a simple diagram of an electric motor in the Figure below. The motor
contains an electromagnet that is connected to a shaft. When current flows through the motor, the
electromagnet rotates, causing the shaft to rotate as well. The rotating shaft moves other parts of
the device. For example, in an electric fan, the rotating shaft turns the blades of the fan. You can
make a very simple electric motor by following the instructions at this
URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhaYLnjkf1E
 Why does the motor’s electromagnet rotate?
 The electromagnet is located between the north and south poles of two
permanentmagnets. When current flows through the electromagnet, it becomes
magnetized, and its poles are repelled by the like poles of the permanent magnets.
This causes the electromagnet to rotate toward the unlike poles of the permanent
magnets.
 A device called a commutator then changes the direction of the current so the poles
of the electromagnet are reversed. The reversed poles are again repelled by the
poles of the permanent magnets, which have not reversed. This causes the
electromagnet to continue to rotate.
 These events keep repeating, so the electromagnet rotates continuously.
You can see an animation of an electric motor in action at this
URL:http://www.schoolphysics.co.uk/animations/Electric_motor/index.html

Summary
 Electromagnetic devices are devices that contain electromagnets. Examples of
electromagnetic devices include doorbells and any devices that have electric motors,
such as electric fans.
 The electromagnet in a doorbell attracts the clapper, which hits the bell and makes it
ring.
 An electric motor is a device that uses an electromagnet to change
electrical energy to kinetic energy. When current flows through the motor, the
electromagnet rotates, causing a shaft to rotate as well. The rotating shaft moves
other parts of the device.
Explore More
Explore the electric motor animation at the following URL. Then describe two ways you can
make the electromagnet in the motor rotate more
quickly.http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/edexcel_pre_2011/electricityworld/
thecostofelectricityrev1.shtml

Review
1. Describe an electromagnet.
2. What are some common devices that contain electromagnets?
3. Describe the role of the electromagnet in a doorbell.
4. What is an electric motor?
5. Explain how an electric motor turns the blades of an electric fan.