Science labs › Physics › Magnet Drop
Drop a magnet through a coil of wire. Can a falling magnet make electricity?
Magnet Drop lab · Last updated: 16 October 2026
You drop a magnet through a coil of wire connected to a meter. As the magnet falls through, the meter needle flicks one way and then the other. Can a falling magnet really make electricity?
What you'll discover
- A magnet moving through a coil makes a current flow in the wire.
- The current reverses as the magnet enters and then leaves the coil.
- A faster magnet or more turns of wire makes a bigger current.
The science in plain words
A magnet is surrounded by an invisible magnetic field. When that field passing through a coil of wire changes, for example because a magnet is moving towards or away from it, electrons in the wire are pushed along. This produces a voltage and, if the circuit is complete, a current. The effect is called electromagnetic induction, and Michael Faraday discovered it in 1831.
As the magnet falls into the coil, the field through the coil increases and the current flows one way. As it falls out, the field decreases and the current flows the other way. A magnet sitting still inside the coil makes no current at all, because nothing is changing.
The size of the voltage depends on how fast the field changes and on the number of turns in the coil. Drop the magnet from higher so it moves faster, or use more turns of wire, and the meter swings further.
There is a lovely twist. The induced current makes its own magnetic field, which pushes against the falling magnet and slows it slightly. This is why the energy for the electricity comes from the magnet's movement. Generators in power stations, induction hobs and wireless phone chargers all depend on induction.
Where it fits
- India, NCERT: Electromagnetic induction is taught in NCERT Class 12; this lab builds on Class 10 Chapter 12: Magnetic Effects of Electric Current.
- United States: Grades 9 to 12
- Next Generation Science Standards: HS-PS2-5
Common questions
What is electromagnetic induction?
It is the making of a voltage in a wire when the magnetic field through it changes. Moving a magnet in and out of a coil is the simplest way to see it.
Why does a still magnet not make electricity?
Induction needs a changing magnetic field. A magnet resting in a coil gives a steady field, so there is nothing to push the electrons along and no current flows.
How do you make a bigger induced current?
Move the magnet faster, use a stronger magnet or wind more turns of wire on the coil. All three make the magnetic field through the coil change more quickly or more strongly.
Related labs
- Bike Dynamo: Pedal a bike on a stand. How does turning a magnet light the lamp?
- Power to the Town: Change the turns on a transformer. Can you make the street lamps brighter, or blow them?
- Scrapyard Crane: Switch on the crane magnet. How many cans can it grab, and how do you make it stronger?
See all physics labs or every Taz science lab.
Try it yourself
The Magnet Drop lab is one of the interactive 3D science labs inside Taz. Change one thing, predict what will happen, then run it and watch. Labs open after you sign in.