Hold the wire about six inches from one end and begin wrapping the other end (the longer piece) around the nail. Keep wrapping the wire until you have the desired number of wraps on the nail. Hold the nail with the wire wrapped around it near the paper clips. Will it pick up any paper clips?
Now put your two batteries into the battery holders and connect them in series. Add your switch in series to the circuit. Connect the wires from the nail to the circuit (see the circuit diagram). By placing the iron nail through the wire coil, magnetism is concentrated and the magnetic field is strengthened. Now close the switch and hold the nail near the paper clips. Describe what happens to the paper clips.
The advantage of an electromagnet over a permanent magnet is that you can turn it on and off.