MadSci Network: Physics |
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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