Physics+Exploratorium

Rebecca Rabin Physics Exploratorium Set Up and Background Research: Plan/Proposal/Research

“Strange Attractor”
 * DEMONSTRATION #1** I think you need to start with something even more basic to talk about magnets overall. Weren't you going to do the iron filings and different shaped magnets to visualize the field?

MATERIALS 1. Ring stand and Clamp 2. 4 to 6 ceramic magnets 3. Masking Tape 4. String

ASSEMBLY 1. Stack at the magnets together so they stick together magnetically (This is orienting the magnets so that all the north poles point in one direction and all of the south poles point in the other direction.) 2. Mark the top of each magnet with masking tape. (Note: This will identify the matching poles of each magnet) 3. Use the string to hang one magnet from the ring stand to form a pendulum. 4. Place the remaining magnets on the ring stand base in the formation of an equilateral triangle. Make sure the masking tape on each magnet is facing up. 5. Adjust the position of the clamp so that the free-swinging magnet will come as close as possible to the magnets on the ring stand base without hitting them.

ACTIVITY Push the magnet and see the pattern formed! After observing, vary the location and poles of the magnets to develop other patterns. Even change the starting position of the pendulum and observe the new pattern developed.

EXPLANATION As seen in the demonstration various patterns of motion were created from varying the location and position of the magnets as well as the starting position of the pendulum. These patterns are influence by the collaboration of the force of gravity acting on the free-swinging magnet and the attraction and repulsion each magnet has on the other.

WEBSITE []


 * DEMONSTRATION #2**

“Diamagnetism”

MATERIALS 1. Two large grapes 2. Drinking straw 3. Film canister with lid 4. Push pin

5. Small knife

6. Neodymium magnet

ASSEMBLY

1. Insert push pin through the film canister lid

2. Put lid on the canister so that the point of the pin is sticking out.

3. Use the knife to cut a small hole at the center of the drinking straw

(Approximately 0.5 cm x 1 cm)

4. Attach one grape onto each end of the straw. 5. Balance the straw with the grapes on the point of the push pin. (The point of the pin goes through the small hole on the straw)

ACTIVITY Bring one pole of the magnet near the grape. Do not touch the grape with the magnet! The grape will be repelled by the magnet and begin to move slowly away from the magnet. Pull the magnet away and let the grape stop its motion. Turn the magnet over and bring the other pole near the grape. The grape will also be repelled by the other pole; the grape is repelled by both poles of the magnet. EXPLANATION

Ferromagnetic materials, such as iron, are strongly attracted to both poles of a magnet. Paramagnetic materials, such as aluminum, are weakly attracted to both poles of a magnet. Diamagnetic materials, however, are **repelled** by both poles of a magnet. The diamagnetic force of repulsion is very weak (a hundred thousand times weaker than the ferromagnetic force of attraction). Water, the main component of grapes, is diamagnetic. When an electric charge moves, a magnetic field is created. Every electron is therefore a very tiny magnet, because electrons carry charge and they spin. Additionally, the motion of an orbital electron is an electric current, with an accompanying magnetic field. In atoms of iron, cobalt, and nickel, electrons in one atom will align with electrons in neighboring atoms, making regions called domains, with very strong magnetization. These materials are ferromagnetic, and are strongly attracted to magnetic poles. Atoms and molecules that have single, unpaired electrons are paramagnetic. Electrons in these materials orient in a magnetic field so that they will be weakly attracted to magnetic poles. Hydrogen, lithium, and liquid oxygen are examples of paramagnetic substances. Atoms and molecules in which all of the electrons are paired with electrons of opposite spin, and in which the orbital currents are zero, are diamagnetic. Helium, bismuth, and water are examples of diamagnetic substances. If a magnet is brought toward a diamagnetic material, it will generate orbital electric currents in the atoms and molecules of the material. The magnetic fields associated with these orbital currents will be oriented such that they repelled by the approaching magnet. This behavior is predicted by a law of physics known as Lenz's Law. This law states that when a current is induced by a change in magnetic field (the orbital currents in the grape created by the magnet approaching the grape), the magnetic field produced by the induced current will oppose the change. WEBSITE []


 * Script Draft #1**
 * Trifolder Poster Draft #1**
 * Script Draft #2**
 * Trifolder Poster Draft #2**