1. With sandpaper, rub off 2 cm of insulation from both ends of 150 cm of wire.
2. Make a coil by wrapping the copper wire 20 times around the nail. Leave a space at the tail of the nail, as you finish wrapping the wire.
3. Count how many paper clips the coil picks up and how it interacts with a permanent magnet. Record your observations in the data table.
4. Use alligator clip wires to connect the tails of the coil to a D-cell battery in a holder. Repeat step 3.
CAUTION!!!: Unhook the wire after a few seconds to avoid overheating
5. Measure and record the mass of the electromagnet assembly (not including the battery). Measure and record the mass of the paper clips you were able to pick up.
6. Make a coil by wrapping the copper wire 50 times around the iron nail. Leave a space at the tail of the nail, as you finish wrapping the wire. Use alligator clip wires to connect the tails of the coil to a D-cell battery in a holder. Repeat 4 and count how many the paper clips the coil picks up. Then measure and record the mass of the electromagnet assembly (not including the battery). Measure and record the mass of the paper clips you were able to pick up.