Red Seal Electrician Practice
Magnetism and electromagnetismQuestion 863 of 1506

Why is a wire wound into a coil to make an electromagnet?

  1. The turns cancel each other, giving a safe low field.
  2. A coil makes the current larger for the same voltage.
  3. A coil removes the need for any current.
  4. The turn fields join into one stronger field with poles.
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Correct answer: The turn fields join into one stronger field with poles.

A coil adds the fields from each turn and gives a definite polarity.

Source: Lessons in Electric Circuits I: DC (Kuphaldt), 14.2: Electromagnetism

Practice magnetism and electromagnetism

Questions last reviewed: 18 October 2026