#035: Instant Compass

Need a compass in a hurry? Sandwich a thread between two very strong magnets, let it hang gently and you’ve got an instant path to the Pole.

(Via evilmadscientist).

Great magnet lesson from clearscience:

Permanently magnetic: ”Magnets” are made out of multi-element materials like ferrite (Fe₂O₃), alnico, and neodynium alloys. These are just ferromagnetic things that are very good at becoming magnetized and staying that way.

Ferromagnetic: Nails, refrigerator doors, anything that sticks to a magnet.

Paramagnetic: Lithium, aluminum, and oxygen are examples.

Diamagnetic: Gold, copper, and water are examples.

Understanding the differences between the types of magnetic-receptive material is key to using magnets effectively. Thanks, clearscience!