Electromagnets

[lovejoy0120]

A.What would happen if I put an electromagnet near an ordinary magnet.

B.I know from science websites that you can build a simple electromagnet but does anyone know you can build a strong/ half-strong magnet using easily obtained materials ?

Thanks.

PS :Already have a small electromagnet.But....if I stood on a block of styrofoam on dry ground and put the two ends of the insulated wire in the mains socket would I get a strong magnet and/or a bad shock ?

[fo3nix]

A. They'd attract/repel eachother. Like any two magnets.

B. There are numerous guides for making electromagnets on the web, such as this one.

PS. I'd strongly recommend you don't do that!

[qapmoc]

The strength of an electro magnet depends on the number of turns of wire and the current, the best way to make a strongish one would be to use some large size copper wire wrapped many times around a metal former and power it from something like a cheap welding transformer, this will give you high current but at a low voltage which would be fairly safe to use in a dry environment.