Make An Electromagnetic Train Electricity Science Experiment

This is a great science experiment that explores electricity and magnetism and results in an impressive and fun “train” that rips around its track using electromagnetism.

Materials:

• Roll of 18 gauge copper wire
• Wire cutters
• AAA Battery
• AA Battery
• Round neodymium magnets that are about the same diameter as an AAA battery

Instructions:

1. Put two to four magnets on each end of your AAA battery. The magnets needs to be placed against the battery with the magnet poles facing the opposite direction of those of the battery.
2. Next, wrap the copper wire around the AA battery. Make your track nice and long before you cut off the excess. Your track will look like a long slinky or spring. 
3. Place the ‘train’ inside the track and watch it go!

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How it Works:

When the magnets are placed on the ends of the battery, a bar magnet is essentially created with a North and South pole. When the “train” is placed inside the copper coils, an electrical current flows through the coils and a magnetic field is created around the train. The North and South poles of this magnetic field push the train along the track. 

Make This A Science Project:

Test different sized batteries. Test different gauges of copper wire. Add additional magnets to the train. Test different lengths of track to see how far your train can travel. 

Note: Batteries drain quickly during this experiment. Keep this in mind when compiling your observations and make sure you are using fresh batteries when making comparisons. 

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