Let’s commence today’s Wonder of the Day with a joke. Ready? Here it is: What did the paperclip communicate to the magnet?
Any suggestions? They said, “I’m genuinely ATTRACTED to you!”
If you’ve ever employed a magnet before, you may have observed that punchline approaching. That’s because magnets allure many objects produced from metal — including paperclips, nails, keys, and numerous other items. You’ve presumably been around more than a few magnets in your lifetime. But have you ever WONDERed how they function?
Magnets are typically composed of iron or a substance that has an abundance of iron in it, such as steel. They are exceptional at attracting most metal objects. But you can hold a glass marble or plastic spoon against a magnet for as long as you prefer. Nothing will transpire!
Similar to the Earth, magnets possess a pole at each end: a north pole and a south pole. You may not promptly discern the dissimilarity between a magnet’s poles. Nevertheless, they conduct themselves quite dissimilarly. If you position the pole of two magnets near each other, one of two things will transpire. If the poles are opposites, they will allure and connect together. If the poles are the same, they will repel one another.
It doesn’t matter whether you possess a rectangular-shaped bar magnet or a curved horseshoe magnet. Both behave similarly. If you have time for an experiment, place an iron nail on a table with a magnet. Then, gradually push the magnet toward the nail. At some point, the nail will leap and adhere to the magnet. This is due to the magnetic field.
Magnetic fields are imperceptible areas that surround magnets. Once a magnetic object enters the field, it is either attracted to or repelled away from the magnet.
Have you ever adhered a piece of art on a refrigerator door? If so, you already have some familiarity with magnetic fields. The attraction between the refrigerator door and the magnet holds the paper in place. As you may be able to surmise, this signifies magnetic fields can actually penetrate solid objects like paper.
Magnets can accomplish so much more than simply hanging around on refrigerators, though. Did you know they keep the refrigerator door closed, too? You may be astonished to ascertain how many applications there are for magnets.
For instance, magnets aid with the recycling process. Recycling centers utilize magnets to assist in sorting steel objects, such as tin cans, from other items. The magnet won’t help pick out the soda cans, however — aluminum isn’t magnetic.
Magnets can also be found within computers, doorbells, and soda machines. They aid electric can openers in holding cans in place and cause compasses to point north. If you scrutinize closely, you’ll discover magnets tucked inside small compartments at the bottom of most shower curtains. The magnetic attraction keeps the shower curtain inside the tub, so you don’t end up with a flooded floor.
Where might you find some of the most powerful magnets around? Not in a recycling center or on a refrigerator. Instead, you’ll find them in hospitals.
An MRI machine, also known as a magnetic resonance imaging machine, utilizes strong magnets and radio waves to allow doctors to see inside the human body. The magnetic field produced by an MRI is 20,000 times more powerful than the Earth’s magnetic field, making it an incredibly strong magnet.
If you’re interested in exploring more about magnets, here are some activities you can do with a friend or family member:
1. Create your own Butterfly Magnet by combining crafts and magnets. Make sure to ask an adult for assistance and check the supply list before starting.
2. Take a tour of your home and count all the magnets you can find. Keep a notebook and ask a friend or family member to join you in this magnet scavenger hunt. Compare the number of magnets in each house to see who has the most.
3. Conduct a fun experiment with magnets using a plastic container, pipe cleaners, scissors, and magnets. You can find instructions for the Magnetic Force experiment online to guide you.
For more information and sources about magnets, you can visit the following websites:
– https://sciencing.com/things-made-magnets-8114024.html (accessed 14 July 2021)
– https://sciencing.com/5-uses-magnets-kids-12016642.html (accessed 14 July 2021)
– https://ece.northeastern.edu/fac-ece/nian/mom/work.html (accessed 14 July 2021)
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