MadSci Network: Physics
Query:

Subject: WHY AREN'T MY ELECTROMAGNETS WORKING?

Date: Wed Oct 15 05:18:15 2003
Posted by KEN
Grade level: 10-12 School: LAKESIDE HIGH SCHOOL
City: atlanta State/Province: ga Country: USA
Area of science: Physics
ID: 1066213095.Ph
Message:

I AM TRYING TO HELP MY DAUGHTER PREPARE HER SCIENCE FAIR PROJECT AND SHE HAS 
RUN INTO A PROBLEM AND I HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO HELP HER FIX IT. I APPREICIATE 
YOU TAKING A MINUTE AND HELP OUT THIS HELPLESS DAD.

MY DAUGHTER, SYDNEY HAS BUILT 2 IDENTICAL HYDROPONIC GARDENS. SHE IS TRYING TO 
CREATE A MAGNETIC FIELD AROUND ONE OF THE GARDENS AND SHE WANTS TO DOCUMENT 
THE EFFECT OF THE FIELD (IF ANY) ON HER BASIL PLANTS.

SHE NAILED ABOUT 15 - 20D BRITE NAILS INTO A 1X2 WOODEN FRAME. SHE WOUND 16 
GAUGE COPPER INSULATED WIRE (APPROX 48 FEET)AROUND THE NAILS IN SERIES IN A 
COUNTER-CLOCKWISE DIRECTION. THE CURCUIT IS SET UP AS FOLLOWS: 120V FROM THE 
WALL TO A SWITCH, TO A 16V DOORBELL TRANSFORMER. THEN CONTINUOUS TO THE BOTTOM 
OF FIRST NAIL, WOUND TO THE TOP THEN CONTINUED TO THE BASE OF THE NEXT NAIL 
THEN WOUND TO THE TOP THEN CONTINUED ETC. FINALLY WIRE FROM THE LAST NAIL 
ATTACHES TO LIGHTBULB BASE W/ 50V MARINE LIGHT BULB. WHEN SHE TURNED THE POWER 
ON THE LIGHTBULB GLOWED BUT HER NAILS WERE NOT MAGNETIZED. WE HOPED BY ADDING 
MORE CURRENT WE COULD FIX THE PROBLEM. WE BYPASSED THE TRANSFORMER, CHANGED 
THE LIGHTBULB TO STANDARD AND RAN 120V AC. LIGHTBULB LIT UP FINE BUT 
UNFORTUNATELY THE NAILS WERE NOT MAGNETIZED (AS FAR AS WE COULD TELL). I'M 
STUMPED... PLEASE HELP !!!

THANKS FOR YOU TIME,
KEN SHAFFER - ATLANTA, GA

PS. PLEASE KEEP IT SIMPLE... THANKS



Re: WHY AREN'T MY ELECTROMAGNETS WORKING?

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