Measure the “Speed” of Magnets

speed of magnets

Speed of magnets

Measure the “Speed” of Magnets

Overview

Discover how fast different type of magnets can make their way through a Copper tube.

Materials

1/2 inch diameter copper tube, 7.5 inches long

Ceramic magnet, 1/2 inch diameter and .2 inch thick

Neodymium magnet, 1/2 inch diameter and .2 inch thick 

Procedure

1. Hold the copper tube straight up

2. Take your ceramic magnet and let it drop into the copper tube

3. Measure how long it takes for it to come out at the bottom

4. Take the neodymium magnet and let it drop into the tube

5. Measure how long it takes for it to fall through the tube.

Observations

The ceramic magnet falls through the tube in one and a half seconds. The neodymium magnet takes longer. About 7 seconds. 

Explanation

The magnets are repelled by the copper and hover in the middle and then slowly go down the whole tube. The magnetic field of the neodymium magnets is stronger. Therefore it takes it longer to fall through the tube.