Sunday, 13 April 2025

Sci: Making a weak magnet

 You will need this for the compass-making exercises that follow.



Making a magnet.

Sewing pins and needles are often made of iron, which can be magnetised, but some of them are made of brass. You need a strong bar magnet to magnetise a pin, and it will help you choose suitable pins, or needles. Just dip the magnet in the pin dish, and use some of the ones that stick to the magnet.

All you need do is to stroke a pin or needle about 20 times, always using the same end of the magnet, and always going in the same direction. Why does this work? The official answer is magnetic domains: look this phrase up.

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