ELECTROMAGNETS

• a solenoid is a coil of wire that produces a magnetic field around it
• the strength of the magnetic field produced by a solenoid depends on the number of turns, current and length of the wire used to make the solenoid
• when an electric current flows through a solenoid, it creates a strong magnetic field inside the solenoid
• to reverse the poles, you change the direction of current
• an electric current forms a magnetic field around a wire, the magnetic field lines are parallel to the wire
• example of an electromagnet - doesn’t have to be a nail -

  
• an electromagnet can be turned off by removing the current from the coil
• in an electromagnet, the magnetic force comes from the flow of electrical charge (current)