A New Phenomenon

Equipment needed:

bolt with 2 washers and a nut
coil of #20 wire
battery board
6V lantern battery
penny, paper clip, scrap of paper, compass
multimeter

1.  
   • Wrap a coil around a bolt. There is a sample at the front of the room.
     
     
2.  
   • Now wire up a circuit consisting of a 6 volt battery, a switch, and your coil.
     
   • What happens to your coil and bolt when the switch is turned on?
     
     
3.  
   • Pick up a scrap of paper by touching it to the bolt.
     
   • Try picking up a paper clip with the bolt. What happens?
     
   • Try the same with a penny (or other coin). What are the results?
     
     
4.  
   • Come up with an hypothesis (make a guess for a law) of what you have observed.
     
     
5.  
   • How would you test your law?