Floating Magnets
| Physics: | Magnetism, Magnetic Forces |
| Grade Range: | Elementary School, Middle School, High School |
| Format: | Hands-on |
Easy to set up and present, this demonstration is a fun addition to any hands-on event. The ring magnets are strong and pose a pinch hazard during set up.
Materials
- Two ring magnets
- Heavy cylinder (such as a bottle of sand)
- Small objects to place on the magnets
Safety Precautions
Please read the General Safety Precautions section of the Demonstration Safety page before performing this demonstration.
Demonstration
- Set one magnet down and place the cylinder in the center. Slide the second magnet over the cylinder until it starts to hover above the lower magnet.
- As students come up, ask them to push the floating magnet down. They will feel it resisting, and upon letting go it "bounces" back up!
- Ask students to put the small objects on the floating magnet. How many can they put on the magnet before it stops floating?
Why This Works
Magnets are objects that have their atomic charges aligned. A magnet has a North pole and a South pole, and these poles are attracted to some metals, like iron. When you have two magnets near each other, their poles follow simple rules. Opposite poles attract; N goes to S, and S goes to N. Like poles repel; N repels N and S repels S.
In this demonstration, we have the S sides of each magnet aimed towards each other. Like poles repel, so the top magnet floats above the other. This is because of the Magnetic Force that these magnets apply on each other. Magnets are often used to "pull" on another object, like a magnet on a fridge. Magnets can also be used to "push" on another magnetic object, by lining up the like poles. With these magnets, the magnetic force is strong enough to resist the force of gravity, allowing one magnet to float above another! One can even feel the resistance of the magnetic force by pushing down on or stacking the small objects on the floating magnet.
Additional Information
- This demonstration pairs well with the Copper Tube and Magnet and the Do it Yourself Electromagnet demonstrations.