Have you ever seen something floating in mid-air that wasn’t supposed to be there? Perhaps it was a friendly neighborhood ghost letting you know of its presence? Or perhaps it was the result of a magnetic field!
A magnetic field is the area of influence a magnet has over metals. A magnetic field covers the whole area where the attraction or repulsion of a magnet can be felt. Magnetic fields are invisible, but the force that pulls on other magnetic materials can be very easily felt in this experiment displaying the concepts of magnetism.
How could that needle be floating so?
The Ghostly Needle
What you will need:
- A Strong Magnet
- Tape
- Thread
- Scissors
- Needle
- Ruler
- A table lamp or other elevated, overhanging surface (such as a shelf)
How to make the needle float:
- Measure out the distance between the lower surface to the elevated surface with the ruler.
- Cut out a length of thread equal to the distance between surfaces.
- With the same thread, thread the needle and tie it off.
- Tape the magnet to the underside of the elevated surface.
- Place the needle (be careful!) within the magnetic field of the magnet with one hand; you should feel a tension on the thread as you do, as you pull the other end of the thread with your other hand.
- Slowly, slightly reel in the thread to maximize the gap between the needle-point and the magnet itself, while keeping it within the magnetic field; shoot for a one-inch gap.
- When you have created the best effect, tape down or otherwise anchor the thread.
This ghoul makes quite an impression.
What happened?
Did you feel the tugging of the magnet on the little needle when it was nearby? That pull was caused by the magnet’s attraction to the oppositely-charged particles of the metal needle. Just as with the awesome static experiments posted on this blog at the beginning of the week before last, opposites attract in the world of electrical charges, and the same concept is shown here in relation to magnetism. The magnet has a magnetic field, and that field forms a sort of invisible tractor beam that draws in metal objects placed within its reach. The magnet you had in your home probably had a field that extended a couple of inches beyond the magnet itself.
Additionally, …
Try placing thin items, like a sheet of construction paper, in between the magnet and the levitating needle. Assuming you don’t bump the needle out of place, the needle should remain in the air! How can the needle manage to thwart the blocking efforts of the thin object? The magnetic field effect penetrates through the other object, allowing it to continue reaching out to the needle on the thread.
Notepads can't hold back a magnetic field.
Also, try having the needle follow the magnet held in your hand, while still having the needle anchored down by the thread. With slow, steady movement, the needle should follow the magnet as you move the magnet around in the air. Just keep the needle within the reach of the magnet’s field. You should be able to make the needle achieve some very impressive angles!
Acute angles, obtuse angles - magnets handle them all.
Show off your magnetic personality by drawing others to this post!
Filed under: Just for Fun! | Tagged: Fall, fighting boredom, holidays, learning, science
