Final answer:
Electric current flowing through a coil wrapped around a ferromagnetic material creates an electromagnet, aligning the material's magnetic domains to produce a strong magnetic field. This electromagnet can be controlled and is fundamental in devices like motors and generators.
Step-by-step explanation:
The result of electric current flowing through a coil of wire wrapped around a bar of iron or another ferromagnetic material is the creation of an electromagnet. When current flows through the wire, it generates a magnetic field, which aligns the domains within the ferromagnetic material, thereby enhancing the overall magnetic field. If you increase the current or the number of turns in the coil, the magnetic field gets stronger.
Ferromagnetic materials like iron become magnetized because the atoms in these materials can act like tiny magnets themselves, which line up with the magnetic field created by the wrapped coil. This alignment causes the bar to exhibit magnetic properties similar to a bar magnet. The electromagnet can be turned on and off by controlling the flow of electricity, giving it an advantage over a permanent magnet.
The direction of the induced current and the resulting magnetic field is governed by Lenz's Law, which states that the induced current will flow in such a direction that it opposes the change causing it. This is critical in applications such as electric motors, generators, and transformers, where control over the direction of current and magnetic fields is essential for their operation.