Help in designing a small yet very powerful electromagnet!!

Miyz

I was wondering what are the major things I should concentrate in creating a strong electromagnet?
What are the best materials to use?
The input source I'm going to use is a 1.5V dc battery.

What do you all recommend?
+ How can I measure the forces it can apply?
Attraction + Repulsion?


Much appreciated!

DrZoidberg

You need a piece of iron and some enamelled copper wire. To make it strong the magnetic field has to be in a closed loop. That means - don't use an iron rod, use a U shaped piece of iron, wind some wire around it and have both ends of the U shape touch the object you want to lift. That way the magnetic field lines are completely inside the iron. If the field has to cross an air gap, the attractive force can be weakened by a huge factor.