Materials: 

3 Glasses

Magnet

13 Paper clips

1/2 Cup of Water

1/2 Cup of Vegetable Oil

1/2 Cup of Light Corn Syrup

 

Here’s How:

1. Place the three cups in a row.
2. Fill one glass with water. Fill one glass with vegetable oil. Fill one glass with light corn syrup.
3. Place four paper clips in each glass.
4. Push the paper clips to the bottom of the glass with the corn syrup.
5. Test your magnet on one paperclip that is not in a liquid. Observe what happens.
6. Take your magnet and put it next to each glass. Observe what happens.

 

Take It Further:

Why do some paperclips move more slowly? What is a different liquid you could test? Would using a different type of glass have the same affect?

 

How It Works:

During this experiment, you are testing to see how different liquids impact magnetic attraction. Depending on the type of liquid, it may cause the paper clip to have more resistance depending on how thick the consistency is. In every scenario, the paper clip is still attracted to the magnet, but the consistency of the liquid will have an affect on how fast or slow the paper clip is able to move throughout it.

 

Fun Facts:

Magnets have a north pole and a south pole.
The north pole of one magnet will repel the north pole of another magnet.
The south pole of one magnet will repel the south pole of another magnet.
The north pole of one magnet will attract the south pole of another magnet.
Magnets have invisible magnetic fields which attract steel items.

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