PhysicsGrade 11Magnetism and Electromagnetism

Magnetism Lab: Field Lines, Compass, and Electromagnet

Map magnetic field direction, vary coil current and turns, reverse polarity, and compare permanent magnet and electromagnet strength.

SimulationsLab index
Textbook unitMagnetismGrade 11 Physics Unit 5 and Electromagnetism references
Keywordsmagnetism, electromagnet, field, compass, currentMapped to available textbook headings
Practice modeManipulate, measure, explainUse the controls, then read the live evidence

Physics · Grade 9

Map magnetic fields and tune an electromagnet

Adjust current, coil turns, core material, magnet strength, and sensor distance to see how field direction and strength change.

StatusStrong field
1

Field direction: increase current and observe field line direction. Apply the right-hand rule to verify.

2

Electromagnet: double current — does field strength double? Reverse current and observe direction change.

3

Solenoid: add more coils. Compare field inside vs outside solenoid and record the ratio.

NPermanent magnetS
Soft iron core
N82 deg
Gauss meter358.1microT
Coil field302.3
Magnet field55.9
PolarityN -> S
Magnetism insight

Dense solenoid: B = μ₀nI where n = coils/length. 48 coils → concentrated uniform field inside, near zero outside. B = 358.15 T.

Net field358.1 microT
Compass deflection82 deg
Core gain3.2x
Energy rate15.9 W
DirectionForward

Lab task

Find two different setups that create nearly the same field strength. Record both and compare current, turns, core, and distance.

Observation rule

A stronger electromagnet comes from higher current, more turns, a magnetic core, and a shorter distance to the sensor.

Mission

What to prove in this lab

  1. Use compass direction and field-line density to infer magnetic field direction.
  2. Explain how current, coil turns, distance, and core material affect an electromagnet.
  3. Compare a permanent magnet field with a current-carrying solenoid field.