. 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.)
Type Answer HERE
In an investigation designed to determine whether a battery or coils of wire are behaving like a magnet, the presence of a magnetic field is the critical factor. If coils of wire carrying an electric current are causing a compass needle to deflect or rotate, then it is the coils of wire that are behaving like a magnet. This is due to the magnetic field created around the coil by the flow of electric current, known as electromagnetism.
On the other hand, a standalone battery not connected to a circuit typically does not create a magnetic field strong enough to influence a compass needle significantly, as the magnetic effect is extremely weak unless it's part of a circuit that allows current to flow. Therefore, if a compass is affected in the vicinity of the setup, it is most likely due to the magnetic field created by the electric current flowing through the coils of wire, indicating that the coils are behaving like a magnet.
In summary, if there is an electric current flowing through the coils of wire and they affect the compass, then the coils of wire are behaving like a magnet.