AC Generator Help!

nguyentech

Hey, I need to make an AC Generator for a school physics assignment.
It will be marked on how much voltage it generates.

I will be doing this using induction with the following equipment:
* Permanent magnet
* Coil/Wire
* Iron Core
* Split Rings/Brushes ?

My questions are:
* What's the best material for the coil/wire?
* How can I make a good iron-core?
* When constructing the coil, does it matter if the coil is wounded so that it is touching itself throughout the iron-core (ie. there is no visible spacing between the coils/turns)?
* Are split rings/brushes necessary? What are they for?


Any help is appreciated.