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Magnetic tricks

Here are some fun magnet tricks to show your family and friends.

A magnet is an object that attracts or pulls some metals toward it. We call objects that are attracted to magnets, magnetic. Not everything made of metal is attracted to a magnet. Only some metals such as iron and steel are magnetic. Other metals such as aluminium and copper are not attracted at all.

Paper clip chain

  1. Tape a magnet to the back of a ruler.
  2. Place the ruler on the edge of a table so that the magnet is out over the edge.
  3. Place ten paper clips on the table near the ruler.
  4. Ask your friends if they can hang the ten paper clips end to end in a chain from the magnet without hooking them together.
  5. When they finally give up you can show them how easy it is, once you know the secret technique.
  6. Hang the first paper clip from the magnet.
  7. Pull that paper clip down away from the magnet just enough to place the second paper clip in between it and the magnet.
  8. Do the same with the next paper clip, placing it at the top of the chain, in between the magnet and the previous paper clip. Continue this technique until all the paper clips are hanging from the magnet.

Levitation

  1. Tape a magnet to the back of a ruler.
  2. Tie a piece of thread 20cm long to a paper clip and tape the other end of the thread to a table or chair.
  3. Practise lifting the paper clip and thread to an upright position above the table, without touching the ruler to the paper clip.
  4. Tell your firends that you will now make the paper clip levitate (rise up) without touching it or the thread.
  5. To really impress your audience, try placing a tissue over the paper clip and make it rise in the same way.