Electromagnet: Current in a Coil

Students build an electromagnet by winding insulated wire around a paper cylinder and then connecting the coil to a cell. The flowing current creates a magnetic field around the coil, turning the simple wire loop into a temporary magnet.

The simulation lets learners drag the coil turns, place two compasses near the ends, and watch the needle deflection as current is applied. Adding an iron nail inside the coil dramatically strengthens the field, allowing the magnet to pick up iron paper clips. Field lines are visualised, and the compasses can be moved to explore how the field varies in space.

Through this activity students discover the direct relationship between electric current, number of coil turns, and magnetic field strength, and see how a ferromagnetic core amplifies the effect. The experiment reinforces concepts of electromagnetism and illustrates practical uses of electromagnets in everyday technology.