Newton's Spindle
This unique toy only available here:
From safetynailer.com: BUY NOW: Newton's Spindle
Follow this link for a regular Newton's Yo-Yo
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Newton’s Spindle: an interesting innovation- a quiet clacker (lol!) which uses neodymium magnets as the swinging weights. The weights still collide but without making physical contact via magnetic repulsion, yet the exchange of momentum is just like that of a regular Newton’s yo-yo, one weight comes to rest while the other obtains all the momentum. Newton’s 3rd Law states that action force equals opposite reaction force- here the red and blue weights (embedded magnets) are equal in mass, so the forces of each collision provide accelerations that are equal and opposite such that the deceleration of the incoming mass is equal to the acceleration of the outgoing mass and the masses trade places leaving one always at rest.
Perpetual Marble Run
Get this affordable desk toy here:
From Amazon: BUY NOW: Perpetual Marble Machine
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Perpetual Marble Run: another fun variation on the perpetual motion simulator that is oddly satisfying to watch. Here steel balls are given a magnetic kick that propels them back to the top of the system using a battery, a coil, a set of large capacitors, and a magnetic sensor unit along with circuit boards to perfect the timing. An affordable desk toy- and this transparent version serves as a reminder that when someone claims a perpetual motion device the question to ask is: “where’s the battery hidden?”
Butterfly Mendocino Motor
Get similar affordable motors here:
From engineDIY: BUY NOW Solar Levitating Motor
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Butterfly Mendocino Motor: an elegant version of this motor with only two photovoltaic cells mounted with care to ensure precision balance. This motor will spin quietly to high RPMs on any sunlit windowsill. In this model each of the two photovoltaic solar cells is connected to a coil of copper wire under the opposing solar cell. When the rotor is lit from above the top solar cell provides electric current to the coil in the bottom position which becomes a temporary electromagnet that pushes against the two mounted rectangular permanent magnets propelling the rotor to rotate. As the rotor turns, the coil that moves into the bottom position is likewise energized by the solar cell currently at the top- one can say the light commutates this motor. 2D magnetic levitation is provided by permanent magnets where an acrylic plate constrains the third dimension, and makes for a nice bearing surface for minimal friction. Invented in the 1960s by Daryl Chapin of Bell Labs and popularized by Larry Springs of Mendocino CA
Magnetic Newtons Cradle
This magnetic version fo Newton's cradle is no longer in production, but can be found on ebay.
Here are some nice versions of the classic Newton's Cradle
and here is a nice Magnetic Replusion Demonstration
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Magnetic Newton's Cradle: the famous collision demonstration reimagined with opposing magnets as the pendulum weights- shown here in two modes of operation. Initially the collision pattern looks similar to the traditional colliding spheres version but quickly goes chaotic- the magnetic field of each weight interacts with all the other magnets simultaneously making the system nonlinear. A 1990s desk toy by Fascinations- sadly no longer in production.
STORY Clock
This very high-tech Story Clock was sold here by the FLYTE team:
A similar device is the Buda Ball with horizonal magnetic capture and levitaion.
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STORY Clock: a spherical magnet hovers one centimeter from the face of this amazing clock and orbits in a circle to indicate the time- for this video I selected an orbit period of 40 seconds to show off the motion. The orbit of the magnetic ball can be set to any period but also has default selectable presets to indicate the current hour, minute, or second. This kind of levitation uses a control system with adjustable electromagnet coils in a feedback loop with Hall effect sensors which allow for fine tuning of a magnetic field to precisely balance the pull of gravity. Amazing magnetic levitation physics demonstrated by clever engineering by the @flyte.se team, this clock will work lying flat or hung on a wall vertically!
Dancing Ferrofluid Device
Available here:
From Amazon: BUY NOW: Dancing Ferrofluid Display
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Dancing Ferrofluid: a black magnetic fluid interacts with a variable strength electromagnet (like those found in speakers). A circuit supplies power to the electromagnet in proportion to the sound waves picked up by a microphone, the changing magnetic field- combined with the liquid surface tension of the colloidal ferromagnetic liquid- produces the captivating motion that keeps time with any music played. Featuring “12 String Thing”, composed and performed by my good friend T.D.Clark @tdclark67
The Alchemist
Bismuth levitation available here:
From Etsy- Element 83: BUY NOW Magnetic Levitation Sculptures
featuring amazing Bismuth Crystals, Jewelry, and Maglev Kinetic Art
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Circa 1981, Physicists transmute Bismuth to Gold: Particle accelerators make possible the ancient alchemist’s dream—but at a steep cost
The Alchemist: cast from diamagnetic Bismuth, a neodymium cube magnet levitates trapped between the hands of the ancient scholar. Diamagnetic substances only have magnetic fields of their own when placed in an external magnetic field from another source- here the cube shaped magnet supplies the field. Diamagnetic fields are pretty weak though so a cylindrical neodymium magnet hangs above the figure and is adjusted to help lift the cube magnet against gravity. Trapped in equilibrium by these magnetic fields, the slightest air currents can send the cube magnet dancing. Although alchemists never succeeded in transmuting lead to gold, in 1981 physicists used the particle accelerator at Berkeley to shoot Carbon nuclei at thin foils of Bismuth- the resulting collisions did produced a tiny amount of Gold atoms! So modern nuclear physics, applied to the element Bismuth, finally accomplished the aspirations of the alchemists. ?Another amazing creation by Ernie McElhannon.
Dipole Magnet and Iron Filings
Get these devices here:
From Amazon: BUY NOW Magnetic Viewing Cylinder
From Educational Innovations: BUY NOW Magnetic Field Viewer Cube
From Amazon: BUY NOW Magnetic Field Viewer
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Dipole Magnet and Iron Filings: visualizing the invisible- the magnetic field lines around a dipole magnet. In the presence of a magnetic field, ferromagnetic materials (such as iron) temporarily become magnets. In this device tiny iron filings each become dipole magnets and link end to end to follow and reveal the magnetic field lines associated with the permanent magnet within the center hollow tube. A simple yet functional magnetic field mapping device that reveals the presence and shape of the invisible force field.
Coupled Oscillators
Similar devices available from this previous posting: Kinetic Wave Wires
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Coupled Oscillators: two identical leaf springs with attached magnets oriented to repel. When the mass configuration on each spring is equivalent, the two springs will have the same natural (resonance) frequency and the energy will then make a complete transfer back and forth, with each spring taking a turn standing still.
Curie Point Heat Engine
This DIY project is pretty easy to build. One half of one of these inexpensive magnetic necklace clasps will work well for the heated magnet.
From Amazon: BUY NOW: magnets for curie point engine
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Curie Point Heat Engine: when the magnet on the end of the wire heats up to a particular temperature (the Curie point) its magnetic field is temporarily lost until it cools. This engine design uses a second magnet to pull the swinging magnet back into the heat source once the magnetic field is reestablished. Repetition of this process creates mechanical motion as long as the heat source is fueled.
Magnetic Top & Snake
Available from my friends at Grand Illusions Ltd.:
From Grand Illusions: BUY NOW: Magnetic Top with Spiral & Snake
Sometime found on auction: Search NOW: Magnetic Top
Here is a smaller fun version:
From Etsy: BUY NOW: Magnetic Top with Snake
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Magnetic Top & Snake: the magnetized tip connects to a metal cutout in the shape of a snake, but since the top is more massive, the metal snake is the object that moves creating this curious motion. This kinetic art toy takes advantage of Newton's 3rd law and rotational kinetic energy. Swipe to see the top interact with a spiral cutout.
Paperclip Magnetic Top
Sometime found on auction: Search NOW: Magnetic Top
Here is a smaller fun version:
From Etsy: BUY NOW: Magnetic Top with Snake
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Paperclip Magnetic Top: the magnetic tipped top attaches to the perimeter of the paperclip- but since the top has much more mass, the paperclip is put into curious motion due to Newton's 3rd law and the top's rotational inertia. This transparent version allows full view of the moving clip. Patented in 1946 under the name Hoy-Poy Top, this antique kinetic art toy made it into my collection as a gift from the folks at @shirepostmint- thanks!
Feel Flux Loop
Available as a set, or individually (all come with the super powerful sphere magnet) here:
From feelflux.com: BUY NOW: Copper + Aluminum Feel Flux
See my other posts on the Feel Flux devices
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Feel Flux Loop: original (copper) and the "Skill Flux" version (aluminum)- toys that use Lenz's Law to manipulate a very strong neodymium magnet. A changing magnetic field (such as that from a falling magnet) induces an electric current in the copper, which in turn produce an electromagnetic field (but of lesser strength) with opposing polarity. Interestingly the magnet falls a bit faster through the aluminum even though the walls are thicker- Al is only about 60% as conductive as Cu- so it takes more material to induce the needed magnetic field using aluminum. Interestingly the Al tube is about half the mass of the Cu one, even though it is larger in volume.
Lenz's Law: Copper v Aluminum
Finding copper and aluminum tubes of the same dimansions can be tricky. Here is a starter set with a copper tube:
From Amazon: BUY NOW: Lenz's Law Demonstration Kit
From Amazon: BUY NOW: Magnetic Viewing Film
See my other posts on the Feel Flux devices
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Lens’s Law Copper v. Aluminum: two tubes, identical in diameter and wall thickness, allow direct comparison of the conductivity of these metals. Al is only about 60% as conductive as Cu, so a 10 inch long pipe of Aluminum is expected to have the same effect as a 6 inch copper pipe. If two identical magnets are released at the same instant with these lengths we expect the magnets to emerge from the bottom of the tubes at the same time (petty close as seen in slow motion). Magnaview film reveals that the magnet does indeed move proportionately slower in the copper tube due to the larger eddy currents generated. I obtained this set from teachersource.com a few years ago.
Lenz's Law Loops Demonstration
Get this affordable device here:
From Amazon: BUY NOW: Lenz's Law Balanced Loops
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Lenz’s Law Loops Demonstration: a strand of aluminum, curled into a loop at each end, is balanced on a rotation point. A strong neodymium magnet at the end of a rod can interact and manipulate the balanced structure without touching it. Note that the closed loop allows a current to form and flow completely around the loop, whereas the loop with a gap barely interacts. A changing magnetic field (from the point of view of the moving loop) induces an electric current in the loop, which in turn produce an electromagnetic field (but of lesser strength) with opposing polarity. A fun demonstration to explore the foundational concepts of Faraday and Lenz.
Induced Current Spin-Up
This great little lab stirrer (which I modified to have a transparent top) can be used in many investigations and demonstrations:
From Amazon: BUY NOW Magnetic Stirrer
Inexpensive concave lenses make great spinning platforms- get one here:
From Amazon: BUY NOW Concave Lens Spin Station
Get a PhiTOP in aluminum here (will work nicely in this demo):
From Art of Play: BUY NOW PhiTOP
Copper and brass versions avaiable here:
From Etsy: BUY NOW: PhiTOP
Note: this site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated
Induced Current Spin-Up: copper is not magnetic, but magnets can interact with conductors. Here spinning magnets in the magnetic stirrer induce electric currents to flow in the solid copper PhiTOP- these currents then create their own magnetic field which opposes the magnets underneath and pushes the PhiTOP to spin. Credit to astrophysicist Kenneth Brecher, the creator of the PhiTOP and this unique means of using Lenz’s Law to spin it up. This top stands up vertically (when spun with sufficient rotational velocity) due to physics similar to that of the tippe-top. The concave lens keeps the top from wandering off of magnetic stirrer
Tesla's Egg of Columbus Replica
Get an amazing reproduction here:
From engineDIY: BUY NOW: Tesla's Egg of Columbus
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Get an aluminum phiTOP "egg" here: BUY NOW phiTOP
Tesla’s Egg of Columbus Replica: an egg of brass mysteriously spins and stands upright in this museum quality replica of Tesla’s famous demonstration from the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago that first showcased the principles behind wireless power transfer and his AC induction motor. The base has no moving parts- instead special copper windings (very similar to Tesla’s original design) form four electromagnet coils on a circular steel core, and a special circuit supplies each with AC currents in such a way that a rotating magnetic field is created. This rotating magnetic field from the coils under the concave glass induces electric eddy currents to flow in the metallic brass egg. These currents within the conducting metal of the egg then create their own magnetic field, which by Lenz’s law oppose the initial fields underneath and pushes the egg to spin. Finally, the oblong egg stands up vertically (when spun with sufficient rotational velocity) due to physics similar to that of the tippe-top. Flipping the switch reverses the rotation direction induced by the coils.
Lenticular Animation
This device is hard to find- here is a possible source: Lenticular Display Rocker
See other lenticular art in my collection
Lenticular Postcard Animation: this stand will rock back and forth for weeks using one AA battery in the base with a simple magnetic pushing circuit. On display is a motion lenticular postcard from the J. Paul Getty Museum that captures 45 frames of the video work of artist Martin Kersels called Pink Constellation with features his construction Tumble Room a realistic replica of a bedroom that can rotate upside down. 3D motion images such as these are comprised of an array of thin cylindrical lenses placed over interlaced multiple images so that each eye sees a different view creating the perception of depth and motion.