Science Max | MAGNETIC LEVITATION | Experiments

Summary

In this episode of 'Science Max Experiments at Large,' Phil explores the fascinating world of magnetism. He starts by demonstrating basic magnetic levitation with small objects and gradually scales up the experiment, attempting to levitate himself using powerful neodymium magnets. Along the way, he discusses the properties of magnets, the importance of polarity, and the concept of ferromagnetic materials. Despite initial challenges, Phil and Matt from Job Master Magnets successfully achieve human magnetic levitation, showcasing the incredible power of magnets in a fun and educational way.

Takeaways

• 🔬 Phil's experiments aim to demonstrate the power of magnets by doing everyday science experiments on a larger scale.
• 🎵 The introduction features Phil's curiosity about magnifying the effects of magnets and exploring their properties.
• 🧲 Neodymium or rare earth magnets are highlighted as some of the strongest magnets available for experiments.
• 🪨 Magnets are attracted to ferromagnetic materials like iron, nickel, or cobalt, and they have two poles: north and south.
• 🌐 The Earth itself is a giant magnet with north and south poles, influencing experiments and natural phenomena.
• 🪄 Magnetic levitation is demonstrated using simple setups, such as a coin floating above a magnet due to repulsion between like poles.
• 🔄 Experiments with magnetic attraction and repulsion showcase the potential for creative and educational uses of magnets.
• 📚 The script includes a science quiz, highlighting the widespread influence of magnetism in nature, technology, and everyday life.
• 🎨 Magnets can be used in art and sculpture, as shown by the creation of a magnet sculpture and the chaining of ferromagnetic objects.
• 🤹 Phil's attempt at magnetic levitation with the help of Job Master Magnets' Matt leads to a fun, though brief,悬浮 experience.
• 🎥 The video concludes with Phil's levitation experiment, emphasizing the need for more power and a larger setup to achieve a stable悬浮 effect.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the 'Science Max Experiments at Large' series?

The main focus of the 'Science Max Experiments at Large' series is to perform everyday science experiments on a larger scale, exploring the principles and effects in a more dramatic and visually impressive way.

What type of magnet is used in the experiment to demonstrate magnetic levitation?

A neodymium magnet, also known as a rare earth magnet, is used in the experiment to demonstrate magnetic levitation due to its strong magnetic properties.

What are the two poles of a magnet and how do they interact with each other?

The two poles of a magnet are the north pole and the south pole. When like poles (north-north or south-south) are brought together, they repel each other, while opposite poles (north-south) attract each other.

How does the presenter demonstrate magnetic levitation?

The presenter demonstrates magnetic levitation by using two magnets with their repulsive poles facing each other, causing a coin to float in mid-air without any physical support.

What is the significance of the Earth's magnetic field in the context of the video?

The Earth's magnetic field is mentioned as an example of a giant magnet, with north and south poles, and is used to explain the concept of magnetism and the attraction/repulsion of magnetic poles.

What materials are attracted to magnets and why?

Materials that are attracted to magnets are called ferromagnetic materials, which include iron, nickel, and cobalt. They are attracted because their atomic structure allows them to align with the magnetic field of the magnet.

How does the presenter attempt to levitate himself using magnets?

The presenter attempts to levitate himself by standing on a platform supported by ring magnets. The magnets are placed on shafts to keep them aligned and prevent movement, which is crucial for maintaining the levitation effect.

What is the result of the presenter's first attempt at levitating himself with magnets?

The presenter's first attempt at levitating himself with magnets is partially successful, as he manages to levitate slightly but not completely. The magnets slide around and he does not achieve full levitation.

What is the science behind the levitating pencil experiment?

The levitating pencil experiment works due to the repulsion between like poles of magnets. When the pencil is placed against the wood, the magnetic field creates a balance that allows the pencil to levitate without any physical support.

How does the presenter address the challenge of balancing two repelling magnets?

The presenter addresses the challenge by using ring magnets with a shaft through the center to keep them perfectly aligned. This method is similar to the one used in the levitating pencil experiment but scaled up for the human levitation attempt.

What is the outcome of the presenter's final attempt at magnetic levitation?

The presenter's final attempt at magnetic levitation is successful, as he manages to levitate on a cushion of magnetic energy with the help of a larger board and more magnets, achieving a stable levitation effect.

Outlines

00:00

🔬 Introduction to Magnetic Experiments

Phil introduces the episode of 'Science Max: Experiments at Large' focused on magnets. He shares his fascination with conducting large-scale science experiments, particularly those involving magnets. The episode aims to explore various aspects of magnetism, including magnetic attraction, repulsion, and the concept of magnetic levitation. Phil demonstrates basic magnetic principles using neodymium magnets, highlighting their strength and the binary nature of magnetic poles. Experiments showcasing magnetic levitation with simple household items are introduced, alongside a teaser for an ambitious experiment to levitate Phil himself using magnetic forces.

05:01

🧲 Levitating Pencil and Magnetic Properties

In this segment, Phil visits the Center for Skills Development and Training, meeting with Matt from Job Master Magnets to tackle the challenge of levitating a person using magnets. They discuss the principles behind magnetic repulsion and attraction, referencing the successful levitating pencil experiment. Efforts to levitate Phil using large magnets are initially unsuccessful due to the magnets' tendency to move apart. They propose a solution involving the stabilization of magnets to prevent them from shifting, setting the stage for a more complex magnetic levitation setup.

10:02

🎓 Magnetic Quiz and Experiments

Phil presents a quiz to engage viewers in the diverse applications of magnetism, including animal migration, music production, and even the functioning of everyday appliances like refrigerators. This illustrates the omnipresence of magnetism in daily life. He also conducts an experiment demonstrating water's polymers preventing leakage when pierced by pencils, emphasizing the playful and educational nature of experimenting with physical concepts. The segment transitions to addressing the challenges of balancing repelling magnets and introduces the solution of using ring magnets for better alignment in the quest to levitate Phil.

15:04

⚡ Enhancing Magnetic Levitation

Phil and Matt experiment with increasing the magnetic levitation setup's power by adding more magnets and shafts, aiming to levitate Phil successfully. They construct a more robust platform with multiple magnets and test the improved setup, achieving partial success in magnetic levitation. This section underscores the iterative process of scientific experimentation, adapting strategies based on observations and results to move closer to the goal of human levitation using magnetic forces.

20:04

🎉 Achieving Magnetic Levitation

In the finale, Phil and Matt expand the levitation experiment by using a larger board with a shaft on each corner, multiplying the magnetic force through the addition of more magnets. This adjustment finally enables Phil to experience levitation, albeit at a low height. The segment concludes with a humorous mishap involving magnets and the camera, reinforcing the fun and unpredictable nature of scientific exploration. Phil's successful levitation using magnetic forces caps off an episode filled with curiosity, learning, and the joy of science.

Keywords

💡Magnets

Magnets are objects that produce a magnetic field, which attracts certain metals, such as iron, nickel, and cobalt. In the video, magnets are used to demonstrate various experiments, including levitation and the creation of magnetic sculptures. The concept of magnets is central to the video's theme, as it explores the properties and applications of magnetism in a fun and educational manner.

💡Levitation

Levitation is the process of floating or suspending an object in the air without any physical support. In the context of the video, magnetic levitation is achieved by using the repulsive force between like poles of magnets. The video showcases several attempts at levitation, including levitating a pencil and, ambitiously, the host himself, to demonstrate the power of magnets.

💡Ferromagnetic

Ferromagnetic materials are substances that are strongly attracted to magnets and can be magnetized themselves. The term is derived from the Latin word 'ferrum,' meaning iron, as iron is the most common ferromagnetic material. In the video, it is explained that only ferromagnetic materials can be attracted to magnets, and examples like paper clips and washers are used to illustrate this property.

💡Rare Earth Magnets

Rare earth magnets, also known as neodymium magnets, are the strongest type of permanent magnet made from an alloy of rare earth elements. They are used in a variety of applications due to their high magnetic strength. In the video, a neodymium magnet is used to demonstrate the powerful attraction to ferromagnetic materials and its potential for scientific experiments.

💡Magnetic Poles

Magnetic poles refer to the two ends of a magnet where the magnetic force is strongest. Every magnet has a north pole and a south pole, and like poles repel each other while opposite poles attract. This concept is fundamental to the video's experiments, as it explains the interaction between magnets and how they can be used to create levitation and other effects.

💡Magnetic Field

A magnetic field is the area around a magnet where magnetic force is exerted. It is often visualized with lines that represent the direction and strength of the field. The video uses the concept of magnetic fields to explain how magnets interact with each other and with ferromagnetic materials, and how these fields can be manipulated to achieve levitation and other magnetic effects.

💡Electromagnets

Electromagnets are devices that produce a magnetic field only when an electric current is passed through them. Unlike permanent magnets, electromagnets can be turned on and off with the flow of current. In the video, an electromagnet is mentioned in the context of creating sculptures and demonstrates the different types of magnets and their applications in art and science.

💡Magnetic Levitation

Magnetic levitation, or maglev, is the process of suspending an object in the air through the use of magnetic forces. This is a key concept in the video, as the host attempts to levitate himself using powerful magnets. The video explores the challenges and the science behind achieving stable magnetic levitation.

💡Magnetic Sculpture

A magnetic sculpture is a form of art created by using the attractive or repulsive forces of magnets to arrange and hold materials together. In the video, the host creates a magnetic sculpture using scrap metal and rare earth magnets, showcasing the creative potential of magnetism and its ability to produce visually striking and interactive art pieces.

💡Science Experiments

Science experiments are systematic procedures carried out to test a hypothesis or to investigate a phenomenon. The video is centered around performing everyday science experiments on a larger scale, using magnets to explore their properties and potential in various contexts, such as levitation, sculpture, and even personal transportation.

💡Attraction and Repulsion

In the context of the video, attraction and repulsion refer to the fundamental magnetic forces that occur between magnets. Attraction happens between opposite poles, while repulsion occurs between like poles. These forces are crucial for the experiments conducted in the video, as they are the basis for the levitation and interaction of magnetic objects.

Highlights

Phil introduces the concept of doing everyday science experiments on a larger scale.

The exploration of magnetism and its attraction to ferromagnetic materials like iron, nickel, or cobalt.

Demonstration of magnetic levitation with a simple setup using a container, a magnet, and a coin.

The creation of a levitating pencil using disc magnets and a clever arrangement.

The visit to the center for skills development and training to attempt levitating a person using magnets.

The explanation of how magnets have a north and south pole and their repulsive and attractive interactions.

The science max quiz that links magnetism to various aspects of life, including bird migration and everyday technology.

The experiment of piercing a water-filled bag with a pencil without spilling the water, showcasing the strength of polymers and water pressure.

The attempt to balance two repelling magnets and the explanation of the difficulty due to the magnetic field's behavior.

The creative use of magnets to make art and sculptures, demonstrating the fun and practical applications of magnetism.

The successful levitation of Phil on a platform supported by a complex arrangement of magnets and wooden boards.

The explanation that not all metals are attracted to magnets, only those that are ferromagnetic, such as iron, nickel, or cobalt.

The demonstration of how the magnetic field can be visualized and understood through simple experiments.

The use of electromagnets in contrast to permanent magnets, showing the need for an electric current to generate magnetism.

The conclusion that emphasizes the pervasiveness of magnets in our lives and their scientific, rather than magical, nature.

Transcripts

have you ever done a science experiment

and wondered what it'd be like if you

did it big

i have

[Music]

my name is phil and i take your everyday

science experiments and do them big

this is science max experiments at arch

facts

it's time to get stuck on magnus what's

our attraction to magnets what's their

attraction to each other and can i use

magnets to levitate and float in the air

all on this episode of science facts

experiments at large

[Music]

greeting science maximize welcome to

science max experiments at large my name

is phil and today we're going to be

looking at the power

magnets you see

magnets are fun things to experiment

with because

they are

really okay they're really interesting

um

this magnet that i've got here is a

neodymium magnet

or a rare earth magnet it's one of

one of the one of the strongest magnets

you can

get um

a magnet is an object that is attracted

to

anything that is feral magnetic which is

iron nickel or cobalt and

mag magnets are interesting because they

have two sides there are two

uh oh there are two poles i'd show you

but i can't get the chain

off

hold on

there are two

oh no

there are two poles to every magnet uh

just like the earth there is a north

pole and a south pole that's right the

earth is a giant magnet so

if you take kitchen magnets you'll find

that there's two different poles i've

written north and south on these ones

they don't normally come like that if

you put the north and the south together

they stick but if you put the north

north or south and south together they

repel they repel see they don't want to

go together at all and you can force

them together if you want but if you do

they will spring away the second you let

them go

but when magnets repel each other i find

that some of the most interesting stuff

check this out this is just a small

container and i've got a magnet in here

and i have a loonie attached to it so

that it fits nicely in the container

like that

for the top i've attached two magnets

together and i have another coin on it

and if you put them in there i've made

sure that the two poles repel each other

which means this magnet will just sit

there and float

magnetic levitation very interesting and

you can pop the top on that if you want

and just carry around a levitating

magnet now there's a couple fancier ways

you can levitate stuff with magnets this

is just a wooden frame i've made this is

completely not necessary you can use

just about anything in your house a desk

lamp works really well the important

part is i've tied a magnet to the end of

this arm here and this is a bolt which

is attracted to the magnet but it's got

a thread tied to it so it can't get

there

just far enough

that it will actually hang in mid air

look at that it's not attached to

anything it's just being pulled up by

the attraction from the magnet the thing

is as soon as you pull the bolt away far

enough it will lose the attraction and

it'll just fall

very cool here's one that's a little bit

more complicated

but is also really neat

this one uses disc magnets which have a

circle or a hole in the middle of the

mirror and you put two around a pencil

and then four more in such a position

that you can put the pencil

against this wood on the side and

it will just

levitate on its own you can even give it

a spin look at that and if you want to

make the levitating pencil yourself

there's step-by-step instructions on how

to build an easy peasy version on our

website

meantime we are going to max this out

magnetic levitation on science max

experiments at large but you're probably

thinking what are we going to levitate

well we're going to levitate

me at least

that's the plan that's why i'm going to

the center for skills development and

training

come on

and only only going down to waist level

this is the weirdest room i've ever been

in

where where am i what's going on

hey matt hi phil this is matt he's from

job master magnets now you guys use lots

of big magnets right that's right we do

awesome so maybe you could help me max

out this

wow you did a great job of building the

levitating pencil experiment yeah so

what's going on here exactly well all

magnets have at least a north and a

south pole right and when you put like

poles together they want to repel oh

okay so have you ever levitated a person

not yet well let's do it all right do

you think we can use these we could try

okay we'll uh put that one on the ground

and okay so north and i'll put the north

one on my foot here and then if i just

step one wait a minute if i step

stop moving if i step on that

step on the okay well first of all the

this magnet keeps sort of moving away

from me when i try to push down on it

uh what do we do how do we fix this well

we need to keep the magnets positioned

so that they don't move around when you

try to bring them together yeah because

i have to come straight down on it

though that's right so why don't we

attach this one to the floor

good idea and then we'll put a board on

this one and we'll see how it goes

perfect okay let's do it all right

[Music]

this is a magnet this is a magnet this

is a magnet

this is a shoe what's the difference to

know that you have to know your magnets

this is a donut it does not stick to

this magnet

this is a spoon it sticks to this magma

these paper clips stick to this magnet

this shoe does not

so what is attracted to magnets only

things that are ferromagnetic here's the

difference horseshoe

horseshoe magnet this one is a magnet

this one

is not

but the horseshoe sticks

to the horseshoe magnet because this

one's a magnet and this one is

ferromagnetic

only things that are faro magnetic are

attracted to magnets things that are not

attracted to magnets they're not

ferromagnetic

plastic banana

mitten sandwich magazine

no but how do you know do you go around

the world sticking a magnet to every

single thing one at a time hey ma i need

you to come over

i need to see if you're ferromagnetic no

ferromagnetic

no you don't need to do that first of

all only metals are ferromagnetic so

that eliminates all your clothing your

luncheon meats yeah magazines what have

you everything that's non-metal you

don't need to worry about

never mind ma it doesn't matter but

this clock is metal

it doesn't stick well not all metals are

ferromagnetic mainly just the ones with

iron nickel or cobalt

and there you have it now you know your

magnets

i hit the phone on the magnet there okay

uh can you hear me ma

hang up the phone hang up

hang up the phone ma

[Music]

my first attempt at levitating had the

magnets sliding all over

so the plan is to take the bottom magnet

and attach it to a big wooden board so

it won't go anywhere then attach another

plank to the top magnet to make it a

little easier to stand on

okay that is definitely attached to the

floor

thank you all right now if i just get

this lined up

oh

look at that it could totally oh wait a

minute

totally

it doesn't want to stay

a put

they levitate come on

levitate

why doesn't it want to stay

and it just doesn't

hm should i stand on it okay i'll stand

on it here we go

and

ah

am i levitating no no

hmm

so why isn't this working

well just like your pencil experiment

we need a shaft through the center to

hold the magnets in position oh yeah

maybe we could use like a ring magnet

yes like we used with the pencil right

and and we're gonna need stronger

magnets we're gonna need stronger

magnets are the ring magnets strong yes

they can be awesome all right let's do

it all right

now it's time for a science max quiz

which one of these things do we have

magnetism to thank for

birds flying south in the winter

music or a sandwich

if you picked a

you're right

some birds migrate in the spring and

fall using the earth's magnetic field

many animals can sense the earth's

magnetic field and use it to navigate

migrating birds fly hundreds or

thousands of kilometers north or south

when they migrate in the spring and fall

a compass works the same way by using

magnetism to point to the earth's

magnetic north pole but if you picked b

music

you're right

here's some music

the way you're hearing this music is

because the musicians recorded their

instruments using microphones

use magnets and then the signal was

translated by a computer and stored on

its hard drive which uses

magnets then it was broadcast to your tv

and comes out your speakers which use

you guessed it

magnets

and for those of you who said you have

magnetism to thank for your sandwich

well you're right

you see you'd probably go to the kitchen

to make that sandwich right

well i'm guessing you got all of the

tasty ingredients from your refrigerator

well it works on electricity which is

produced by magnets

and then there's an electric motor in

the fridge that circulates the air and

keeps it cool and guess what magnets and

finally the door on your fridge stays

closed because the door has magnets

so there you go you can thank magnetism

for birds flying south music and your

sandwich it just goes to show when

you're talking about magnets everybody

wins because magnets are everywhere this

has been a science max quiz

[Music]

here's an experiment you can do with a

bag of water take a sharpened pencil and

carefully

push it through the bag

if you do it carefully it won't spill

the reason this works is because the bag

is made of polymers long stretchy chains

of molecules and also because the

pressure of the water against the pencil

prevents any water from spilling out

now

we're gonna max it out

this is a very large bag of water and

here i have some very large

pencils you ready

that's one

that's two

here we go

should i go from the bottom

[Music]

tada

science

[Music]

okay okay okay

i know what you want

like i was saying

science

turns out trying to balance two

repelling magnets on top of each other

is pretty much impossible here's why

this is a magnet and here is the

magnetic field it's often drawn with

lines like this but actually the

magnetic field radiates out in all

directions really think of the magnetic

field kind of like a ball

when you try to balance another magnet

on top of the first magnet it's about as

hard as balancing one ball on top of

another ball so here's the plan just

like the levitating pencil we're going

to use ring magnets because we can put a

shaft through the center of one ring

then drop another ring magnet on the

shaft it will keep them perfectly

aligned then it's just a matter of

putting the bottom magnet on a board to

keep it stable and using another board

so i can stand on it and ta-dah magnetic

levitation or at least that's the plan

okay

board magnets magnets

look at that awesome and now i'm gonna

put the platform on

nice i got some weights here let's see

how this works

yeah

this is gonna work amazing all right i

think i should try it give it a try okay

here we go

huh

yeah i'm doing it i'm levitating

what just a little bit

oh really yeah so hmm

yeah what do we do we need more power

more power i like that idea how do we

give it more power uh

more shafts more magnets

okay sure well why don't we do um when

we do one two three four shafts and then

we'll have magnets on all the shafts

great idea all right

let's do it

[Music]

if you attach something ferromagnetic

like this washer to a magnet

not only does it stick but the magnetic

field travels down the metal

making it a magnet too which means you

can stick more and more things

to each other

and they will continue to stick

until

you run out of magnetic field you can do

this yourself at home with anything

ferromagnetic paper clips work pretty

well or washers like i have or screws or

bolts and they'll continue to stick to

each other as long as the magnetic field

is strong enough you can see it's

getting pretty weak here and they'll all

stay magnetized as long as the first one

is still attached

to the magnet

but if you want to go even further all

you need to do is keep adding more

magnets to reinforce the magnetic field

i've got a few

here

like this let's get the chain started

like that and then i've got a magnet

attached to this washer

so it will keep the magnetic field

strong

and i continue to add

one magnet one washer and we'll just see

how far i can go

[Music]

you can even

sculpt it a little bit look at that and

then at the end

a whole bunch of paper clips

eventually the weight will make it fall

off but it's a lot of fun to play with

magnets and make art

speaking of art you can make with

magnets you can also make sculptures

when everything sticks to everything

else you can make some pretty fancy

designs this is a rare earth magnet a

very strong one and a bunch of nuts that

i've gotten and this one here is an

electromagnet but electromagnets are a

little different because they need an

electric current to work

check this out this is sort of a

magnet dude with crazy hair there's an

earth magnet here and this is a giant

screw and these are some metal bits and

then i've got two more magnets at the

top here to hold on his crazy wire hair

he's got crazy wire hair because he's

crazy magnitude now of course we

couldn't just talk about magnetic

sculptures without maxing it out so

let's max it out

this is a bunch of scrap metal from

leftover experiments and i've got a

bunch of rare earth magnets and now i'm

gonna max out a magnet sculpture

[Music]

[Music]

there you go a maxed out magnet me

i made this guy out of metal pipes with

earth magnets in between and these are

his arms attached of course with magnets

his hand is little metal pieces attached

with magnet steel wool for the hair and

of course hat non-magnetic all right

here we go ready

[Music]

wanna see a magic trick simple copper

tube drop things through it

[Music]

nothing unusual happens but watch when i

drop a magnet through

what

it's not magic it's science because the

magnet creates a magnetic field when it

goes through the tube the magnetic field

repels the magnet upwards now the field

isn't perfect so the magnet doesn't come

to a stop but still it slows down from a

fall to a nice graceful drop take a look

from above

pretty amazing right magnets not magic

science

so i've managed to levitate on some

magnets but just barely what matt and i

needed was more power so instead of

having one shaft and one pair of ring

magnets we're going to use a larger

board and put a shaft on each corner

then we'll have four times the power

because we're using four times the

magnets hopefully this will be strong

enough to get me floating on a cushion

of magnetic energy

and magnets magnets okay here we go

this is gonna work great and

top board

[Music]

oh what do you think looks great yeah

okay here we go

matt

you're limitating i'm levitating

all right it feels cool it's sort of

like it sort of feels like surfing a

little bit all right thank you so much

matt that was amazing and there you have

it science max experiments at large

magnetic levitation you know i'm

surprised we could do an entire episode

on magnets and we never actually got

them so close to the camera that the

camera went all weird because cameron's

and magnets they don't oh dear oh oh

um

no that's okay i can i can

i can fix this if i just maybe no

maybe if i put the magnet to the camera

again that would oh oh okay that's not

that didn't help

oh okay well thanks very much for

watching uh science max experiments at

large and uh we'll see you again as soon

as we you get a new camera

today we're gonna be looking at the

power of magnets magnets

like this

okay this one here is called a neodymium

magnet or a rare earth

magnet it sticks to this

ramona