Make a Permanent Magnet

Wrap the insulated bell wire around the steel knitting needle. The wire should be wrapped the full length of the needle. One end of the wire is connected to the battery. The other end of the wire is then touched for just a few seconds to the other terminal. This should make the needle into a permanent bar magnet. If you did not get results, try two batteries in series, wind more turns of wire on the needle, and leave it connected a little longer. Do the same thing with the second knitting needle. In the same way, you can magnetize a screwdriver, so that you can use it to pick up and hold steel screws. Don't do it unless you want your screwdriver to be magnetized.

Figure 3