Why Won't My Electromagnet Work?

If the wire is broken or the contacts aren't making contact, or if your power supply (batteries? plug-in AC -> DC converter?) is dead, you won't get much out of your electromagnet. ... 3) Not enough turns of wire. Magnet wire used in motors is not very thick, so that many turns can be wrapped around in a tight space.

Why will an electromagnet never repel iron?

Under normal conditions, a magnetic material like iron doesn't behave like a magnet because the domains don't have a preferred direction of alignment. On the other hand, the domains of a magnet (or a magnetized iron) are all aligned in s specific direction.

Which wire and core make an electromagnet that does not work?

An iron core makes a temporary electromagnet. It loses its magnetism as soon as the switch is opened and the current is switched off. A steel core makes a more permanent magnet. It does not lose its magnetism quickly when the current is switched off.