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How to Make an EMF Generator

The term ̶0;EMF̶1; is sometimes used in conversation to mean "electromagnetic field," although this usage is not technically correct. Strictly speaking, EMF refers to "electromotive force" ̵1; the voltage generated in a conductor by a magnetic field or a battery. An electromagnetic field surrounds a wire when a current is passed through it. A very simple electromagnetic field generator is an electromagnet, which you can build using copper wire, a battery and an ordinary iron or steel nail.

Things You'll Need

10 feet of insulated, solid-core copper wire
Wire cutters and strippers
6-inch iron nail
9-volt battery

Instructions

- 1
  Cut off a 10-foot length of insulated copper wire using your wire cutters. Strip off an inch or two of the insulation from each end of the wire, exposing the copper.
- 2
  Coil the wire around the nail. The coils must be neat and wound side by side rather than overlapping each other. Leave a "tail" of a few inches so you can attach the battery.
- 3
  Wrap one of the bare ends of the wire around one terminal of the battery.
- 4
  Touch the other bare end of the wire to the other battery terminal. Electrical current will flow through the wire, creating an electromagnetic field. The nail makes the field stronger.

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