For this investigation, is it the Battery or the Coils of Wire carrying a current that are behaving like a magnet? (Hint: Use the magnetic field and compass to help you decide.)
To determine whether it is the battery or the coils of wire carrying a current that are behaving like a magnet, we can employ the use of a magnetic field and compass.
First, let's consider the behavior of a compass when brought near a current-carrying wire. According to the right-hand rule, if the thumb of the right hand is aligned with the direction of the current flow, the fingers will curl in the direction of the magnetic field around the wire. This indicates that the current-carrying wire produces a magnetic field.
Next, let's examine the behavior of a compass when brought near a battery. In the absence of any current flow, a battery does not inherently produce a magnetic field. Thus, a compass will not be affected when placed near a battery with no current flowing.
Combining these observations, we can conclude that it is the coils of wire carrying a current that are behaving like a magnet. The current flowing through the wire generates a magnetic field, which is detected by the compass.
Therefore, in this investigation, the coils of wire carrying a current are behaving like a magnet, not the battery.