Copper Tube and Magnet

Physics:	Magnets, Induction
Grade Range:	Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Format:	Hands-on

THIS DEMONSTRATION IS STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Materials

• Copper Tube
• Two Neodynium Magnets
• A soft surface to drop onto, if possible

Demonstration

1. Show the tube and magnet to the students. Drop the magnet from waist height onto a soft surface to show that it is a normal magnet. Ask the audience to identify what makes the magnet fall to the ground.
2. Have a volunteer come up, and give them a magnet. Hold the second magnet and the copper tube, and ask the class if dropping the magnet through the tube will speed it up, slow it down, or not do anything. Show that the tube isn’t magnetic by holding both magnets against it.
3. On the count of three, have yourself and the volunteer drop your magnets. When you drop yours through the tube, it will slow down! Depending on the tube’s dimensions, it can take between a couple seconds to a minute for the magnet to fall through. With our smaller tube, the magnet will drop through it in about five seconds.

Why This Works

Because, well, magnets.

Additional Information

• If possible, get a set of different copper tubes to compare the speeds that the magnets fall at.