Making an Electromagnet

We create a simple electromagnet by coiling wire around a nail and passing current through it. The magnetic field around the electromagnet creates similar patterns in iron fillings to a permanent magnet. Physics - Electricity And Circuits - Learning Points. A coil carrying an electric current creates a magnetic field similar to that of a bar magnet. No magnetic field is present when there is no current flowing, which enables the magnet to be switched on and off. The current used in this experiment is direct current (DC). A Twig Experiment Film. Let students experience real experiments in lab conditions anywhere, from setup, method all the way through to analysis and real-world application.