Insulated copper wire is used to create an electromagnet. It will definitely work! You have to make sure the copper wire insulation is good. Otherwise there is a possibility of short circuit between the wire and iron piece.

Answer. The copper wire used in an electromagnet is insulated with a coating of nonconductive insulation like plastic or enamel in order to prevent the current from passing between the wire turns. The windings of the wire multiply the effect of the circulating current due to which it becomes magnetic.

If you don’t use insulation, you run the risk of shorting the current on the coil. You can use bare 20AWG wire to make an electromagnet, but probably not the best idea as you have to rely on oxide layers that insulate or wire spacing to keep current from running straight from one coil to the next or through the nail.

Wire size did not make a significant difference in electromagnet strength.

Answer: The correct answer is “iron nail”. Explanation: Electromagnet consists of iron core wounded by the coils and then the current is passed through it. The electromagnet becomes active when the current flows through it.

A good permanent magnet should produce a high magnetic field with a low mass, and should be stable against the influences which would demagnetize it. The desirable properties of such magnets are typically stated in terms of the remanence and coercivity of the magnet materials.

Permanent magnets are made from special alloys (ferromagnetic materials) such as iron, nickel and cobalt, several alloys of rare-earth metals and minerals such as lodestone.