Elenco Snaptricity&reg - Manual (Page 58)

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ElectroMagnet Tower Project #48
Educational Corner:
Magnets concentrate their
magnetic effects at both ends.
The magnetic field is strongest
at both ends but neutral in the
center, because the attraction
from each end is the same.
But the electromagnet is
hollow - so iron at one end will
be sucked into the middle. The magnetic field produced
by the electromagnet has
direction just like a normal
magnet. Opposite ends of
magnets attract, while like
ends repel each other.
Find two magnets in your
home. Try putting them
together, then flip one around.
They will attract one way but
repel the other way.
Push the press switch (S2) several times. The thin rod gets
sucked into the electromagnet and can be suspended
there, or you can bounce it up and down.
When you push the press switch, the thin rod gets sucked
up and wiggles up and down until settling in position just
below center. Measure how high you get the thin rod to go,
then try with old and brand new batteries. Remove a 1-snap
from under each side of the electromagnet, then see how
high the thin rod will go.
Part B: With the switch pressed and the thin rod suspended
in mid-air, hold the magnet near the thin rod. Notice that the
red (N) side of the magnet repels the thin rod but the black
(S) side attracts it.
Operation
Build the circuit as shown and drop the thin rod into the
electromagnet (M3).
Assembly
Coils store energy in a
magnetic field, while static
electricity stores energy in an
electric charge across a
material (an electric field).
Note: the magnet poles may be opposite of how it’s
shown here, depending on how you connected the
electromagnet (M3).