What's new

magnetism posts

Confuse a compass with electricity Activity

by David Shaw, 9 July 2020 | 0 comments

Image of a compass on a piece of wire.

By Beth Askham and David Shaw Did you know that electricity and magnetism are closely related phenomena? In this activity, you’ll create a magnetic field using electricity and find that this can cause chaos for a compass!

Continue reading Confuse a compass with electricity

Drop the needle! Activity

by David Shaw, 11 July 2019 | 0 comments

Flame heating a needle held in place by a magnet.

Think you understand magnets? In this hands-on activity, use a magnet to make a needle float and then fall.

Continue reading Drop the needle!

Microscope: Higgs boson News

by Mike, 26 September 2013 | 0 comments

A table of the standard model in particle physics.

Welcome to Double Helix magazine’s Q&A section – Microscope. We take a close look at small questions full of big ideas. Q: I would like to know how a Higgs boson gives other particles their mass?

Continue reading Microscope: Higgs boson

Categories:

Make a magnetic rocket Activity

by Carol Saab, 15 August 2013 | 3 comments

Woman looking at magnets on a track

What happens when your rocket fuel is magnetic force? Our latest video shows you how to make a rocket using super strong rare-earth magnets, skewers, ball bearings and blu-tack. Check it out in slow-mo and watch for something rather curious…

Continue reading Make a magnetic rocket

Categories:

Make a magnetic rail gun Activity

by Carol Saab, 1 August 2013 | 1 comments

Hand holding a ring launcher that looks like a rod with a handle

Electricity, magnets, momentum and cool slow-mo footage. It’s all in our video: take a look!

Continue reading Make a magnetic rail gun

Categories: