Why does the wire have to be copper?
Copper is not the only element that can be used in the transfer of electricity. However, there are a number of factors that make it the most suitable to be used as an electrical wire. First, apart from silver, copper has the highest conductivity compared to other elements. This, therefore, means that copper wire enables electricity to pass through them quite easily hence making it ideal for electrical components. The second factor that makes copper the most preferred as an electrical wire is a fact that it is cheaper than most of the other elements. Although gold and silver are relatively good conductors, they are however several times more expensive compared to copper. A firm that considers using either gold or silver would essentially waste a lot of money.
Why do the ends of the battery get hot after the wire touches them for an extended period of time?
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Batteries, unlike wires, have some internal resistance that minimizes the flow of current. Wires, on the other hand, have extremely low to zero Ohm resistance. Therefore, a battery would get hot after a wire touches it for a prolonged period of time since the maximum available current that is from the battery would flow constantly through the wire and then flow back to the cell. Since I^2*R calculates power, this means that even though R would be small, current will still be essential and so will power. All that power would hence make the battery hot after wires touch it for a prolonged period of time.
Why do you have to coil the wire instead of leaving it straight?
Permanent magnets in no doubt produce magnetic fields that are good and quite strong. At times, however, the strength of the magnetic field in some applications is still too weak and calls for the need to control the amount of magnetic flux available. To produce stronger magnetic fields that are more controllable, there is need to use electricity. It is advised to coil the wires rather than leaving it straight as this helps to produce electromagnets that are very strong for use in various electrical applications. Using coiled wire rather than straight wire also produces electromagnetism –a different form of magnetism.
How do the number of coils affect the strength of your magnet?
Magnetic field increases with an increase in the number of coils added to the electromagnet. When current runs through a piece of wire, it creates a magnet. This is because electric charges that are in motion would at all times create a magnetic field. In wires, these magnetic fields lines are said to always run in circles. By knowing the length of the wire, one can calculate the exact amount of magnetic field that is generated. When the wire is coiled, it causes reshaping in the direction of the field lines. The more the coiling, the more field strength. In other words, each coiling causes an increase in the magnetic flux density of the magnet.
What are some examples of devices that utilize electromagnets?
An excellent example of a device that utilizes electromagnets is the portable, hand-held speaker. Just like any other device that has speakers, this device contains some voice coil inside or electromagnets. The electromagnet in such devices changes electrical currency to audible sound. This is done through the vibration of the paper diaphragm or cone. These vibrations are caused and controlled by the current flowing through the electromagnet. Every electrical device that needs a change in currency is considered to be electromagnets. Apart from speakers, other examples of devices that utilize electromagnets include, computer hard drives, electrical buzzers, doorbells, generators, electrical motors, DVD players, tape recorders, microwaves, among many others.
