The Effect of Temperature on the

Strength of the Magnetic Field

Produced by an Electromagnet

Chris Conte.Cousino
High School
Zach Hoisington.Sterling
Heights HS

Purpose
Determine how to manipulate
the conditions that an
electromagnet is exposed to
in a way that will maximize
magnetic field strength

Conte - Hoisington

Terminology
Solenoid A cylindrical coil of
wire, usually wrapped around
a core, which may act as a
magnet when it carries an
electric current
Magnetic Field The
magnetized region that
resides around a magnetic
material
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Background
The force of an electromagnet
is created by the interaction
of electrically charged
particles and an uncharged
magnetic field

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The Electromagnet

http://www.electronicstutorials.ws/electromagnetism/electromagnets.html

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Magnetic Field
Strength
Magnetic Field Strength,
denoted by B, is determined by
The permeability of free space
constant, 0
The strength of the current, I
The number of loops in the coil that
is wrapped around the core, N
The length of the coil, L

B = 0IN/L

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The Strongest
Electromagnets
For the ideal electromagnet
Use copper for the wire
Has a low electrical resistance
May be easily shaped to make a coil

Wrap the wire around the core as

tightly as possible
Use iron, or another ferromagnet,
for the core
Atoms align very easily
Allows the magnetic field to be created
far more frequently
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Problem
How would an increase in the
temperature of the
electromagnet affect the
strength of the magnetic field
it produces?

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Hypothesis
If the temperature of the core
of an electromagnet is
increased, then the strength
of the magnetic field created
by the electromagnet will also
increase

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Unique Materials
Electromagnet
Hot Plate
Elenco Regulated Power
Supply (13.8V DC)
Alligator Clips
Lab Quest/Magnetic Field
Sensor (0.1G Precision)

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Experimental
Procedure

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Compared Data
Temperat
ure of
Rod (C)
Average

Magnetic
Field
Strength
(T)

22.7

18.60

0.001860

0.1

0.96

0.000096

Standard
Deviation

Temperat
ure of
Rod (C)
Average

Magnetic
Field
Strength
(G)

Magnetic
Field
Strength
(G)

Magnetic
Field
Strength
(T)

98.7

46.39

.004639

0.9

4.02

.000401

Standard
Deviation
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Interesting
Observations
Trial

Observation
3 Keeping the temperature

at 100C became an
issue. Procedure was
modified to fix this issue
14 The original choice for
the power source, a 9V
battery, proved to be
ineffective. The
procedure was modified
to fix this issue.

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2-Sample t-Test
Assumptions
Normal Distribution (probability plot)
Data taken from two independent
populations
Parameters are unknown

R = Room Temperature
Electromagnet
B = Boiling Temperature
Electromagnet
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2-Sample t-Test
Null Hypothesis
Ho : R = B

Alternative Hypothesis
Ha : R < B

Alpha Value
0.05
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Normality of the Low Temp.

M
R
O

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L
A

16

Normality of the High Temp.

M
R
O

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L
A

17

Magnetic Field Comparison

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2-Sample t-Test
Results

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Density Curve

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Interpretation of
Results
Accept Preliminary Hypothesis
Sufficient evidence that the
room temperature
electromagnet has a lower
magnetic field strength than
that of the boiling
electromagnet
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Design Flaws
Electromagnet Construction
Magnetic Field Sensor
Orientation
Experiment was completed
on a small scale

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Further Research
Portion of the magnet from
which data is collected
Length of the core of the
electromagnet

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Recap
It was sought to determine
whether raising the
temperature of an
electromagnet could increase
the magnetic field strength

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Recap
The core of an
electromagnets were heated
to the proper temperatures
and then their magnetic field
strengths were recorded

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Recap
Through the analysis of a TwoSample t-Test and box plots, it
was determined that raising
the temperature does raise
the magnetic field strength
thanks to

C
I
T
E
N
G
A
Y
M
T
I
L
I
B
A
E
M
R
PE
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Acknowledgements
Mrs. Cybulski
MMSTC Physics Teacher
Joey Maleszyk

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Works Cited

McMillan, Greg. "Magnetic Permeability." Personal interview. 22

May 2014.
McMillan, Greg. "Solenoids and Electromagnets." Physics Lecture.
Michigan, Sterling Heights. 16 Apr. 2014. Lecture.
Storr, Wayne. "The Electromagnet." Basic Electronics Tutorials.
Electronics Tutorials, 07 Apr. 2014. Web. 08 Apr. 2014.
<http://www.electronicstutorials.ws/electromagnetism/electromagnets.html>.
http://www.clker.com/cliparts/e/2/a/d/1206574733930851359Rya
n_Taylor_Green_Tick.svg.hi.png

Questions?
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