An electromagnet is a coil of wire with an electric current flowing through it.
When the wire is coiled around in a cylinder, we call this a solenoid. The solenoid becomes an electromagnet when a current flows through it.
Why use copper?
Copper is used because it has a low electrical resistance (see conducting properties). This means that it is easy for the current to flow through it. Also, copper wire can be easily shaped to make a coil
What's the field like?
When the current flows through the wire, it makes the coil into a magnet. We call this an electromagnet.
The field of the electromagnet is similar to the field of a bar magnet. The coil has a north pole at one end and a south pole at the other.
Remember, that we show the lines of force coming out of the north pole and going into the South Pole.
