Ages 8+
ITEM #5855
Use the science of Magnetism to become a “snake” charmer!
have your blob of putty “devour” a magnet.
find the iron in breakfast cereal.
What you get
What else you’ll need
•Ceramic Bar Magnet
•Total® Cereal (or another brand with 80%
of the minimum daily requirement of iron)
•Magnetic Putty
•2 re-sealable sandwich-size plastic bags
•Metal Tray
•Paper or plastic cup
•Paper clip
Let’s try it!
1. SNAKE CHARMING! Form a long, thin snake-like piece from your blob of magnetic putty. You can even shape a
“mouth” on your “snake.” Bring the mouth end close to one end of the bar magnet. Watch the “snake” move like it’s being
charmed, as it is first repelled, then attracted to the magnet. Turn the magnet around, exposing the opposite end, or pole,
to make the snake move. What is happening? Because you have aligned the tiny magnets in the putty to make the poles,
it almost seems alive! Amazing!
2. DEVOURING BLOB! Place the bar magnet in your metal dish. Position the blob of putty about a half inch from the magnet,
and watch it move – ever so slowly – toward the magnet. Like a magnet-eating monster, it will continue relentlessly until it
surrounds the magnet, almost like it is trying to eat it. Set it aside for a while, and when you come back later, see what has
happened. It will take time to engulf the magnet. Try shaping the putty into other creatures that want to “eat” the magnet.
3. Iron for Breakfast! Place a good-sized handful of iron-containing cereal, like Total®, into a strong, re-closable
plastic bag, and crush up all the flakes. Transfer the crushed flakes to the second bag, add enough water to make a cereal
“soup,” and seal the bag. Let it sit for a few minutes. It should look like the soggy cereal you leave behind in your breakfast
bowl. Hold the bag with the soggy cereal in one hand and move your magnet slowly back and forth across the part of the bag
where the most cereal is. It may take you a few minutes to get it just right. Can you see what’s following behind the magnet –
tiny iron filings! This is the government recommended amount of iron we should have in our daily diet! You’re really eating
iron for breakfast!
4. Magnetic Fields. Lay a thin piece of putty flat along
the length of your bar magnet, covering the entire top surface.
Don’t use your entire blob of putty. Allow it to stand for a while
and then look closely for tiny needle-like protrusions indicating
the direction of the magnetic field in three dimensions. Compare
the way they are pointing to the iron filing patterns in Figure 1.
This set contains chemicals that may be harmful
if misused. Read cautions on individual containers carefully.
Not to be used by children except under adult supervision.
This product contains small magnets.
Swallowed magnets can stick together across intestines
causing serious infections and death. Seek immediate
medical attention if magnet(s) are swallowed or inhaled.
CHOKING HAZARD - Small parts.
Not for children under 3 years.
Figure 1
5. Levitating Paper Clip.
Tape your ceramic magnet to the top of an inverted paper or plastic drinking cup.
Then tape the cup to the table with four pieces of tape to hold it securely. Place the magnet so it hangs a little over the edge
(if the cup has a recessed bottom, put it against the rim). Cut about a 12” piece of sewing thread and tie one end to a paper
clip. Allow the paper clip to just touch the end of the magnet off the edge of the cup. Tape the other end of thread about 8”
away to the surface you are working on. Now pull back, just a little at a time on the thread. As the tension separates the clip
from the magnet, you will see open air between them and have successfully suspended your paper clip in the air.
THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE FUN
What are magnets, anyway?
Magnets are materials that have the power to attract – pull toward itself – other objects made of certain substances like
iron, or repel - push away – other magnets. A magnet can transmit its forces to another magnet without touching it. This
is how your putty “snake” moved when you held it near the bar magnet.
Iron, Nickel and Cobalt are the most commonly found natural magnetic materials. Iron (ferrous) materials are the most
abundant magnetic substances found on the Earth. Magnetite is a naturally occurring magnetic mineral made of iron oxide.
It was nicknamed lodestone by early compass makers because it aligns itself in a north-south direction.
All magnets have two ends, called north and south poles. Like poles repel each other, and unlike poles attract.
Magnetic attraction is always strongest at the ends of a magnet.
Magnetic Putty
Your blob of magnetic putty contains millions of micron-sized mini-magnets embedded into black silicon-based putty.
The putty acts not quite like a solid and not quite like a liquid, and is non-toxic and safe.
Science Smarts
1. Don’t eat the Magnetic Putty! It’s safe and fun to play with but it’s not a food item. Wash hands after handling.
Store the Magnetic Putty in a sealed plastic bag.
2. Keep your magnet away from all electronic equipment such as TV’s, computers, cell phones & cameras.
3. The magnet and Magnetic Putty in this kit are small enough to be a choking hazard and should not be used by children
under the age of 8. Adult supervision of all activities is recommended.
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