How to Make Magnetic Fluid
You can make your own magnetic liquid at home and perform your own magnetic experiments with a few easily acquired supplies.
Up next in How to Do Fun Tech & Science Projects (52 videos)
Teach your children technical skills and science in fun ways with the tech and science projects in this Howcast video series.
You Will Need
- Copier toner
- Graduated beaker
- Vegetable oil
- Glass rod
- Small glass container
- Rare earth magnet
- Table
- Napkins
- Cleaning supplies
Steps
-
Ingesting magnetic fluid can be harmful or fatal.
-
Step 1
Combine toner and oil
Pour 1/4 cup of toner into the graduated beaker and then add 2 tablespoons vegetable oil.
-
Step 2
Stir it up
Stir the mixture with a glass rod until you get a smooth, thin consistency. Then transfer the mixture to a smaller glass container so it's easier to handle.
-
Step 3
Test the ferrofluid
Test the fluid by placing the magnet against the outside of the container and moving it over and around the fluid. The liquid will magnetize and follow the magnet around the container.
-
If the magnetic bond is weak, you need a stronger magnet.
-
Step 4
Experiment
Try different experiments. Pour the magnetic fluid onto a table and hold the magnet under the table to see what happens. Put the magnet directly into a puddle of the magnetic fluid and watch the fluid occupy the entire magnetic field.
-
Step 5
Try your own experiments
Invent your own experiments, but make sure you have plenty of napkins and cleaning supplies -- magnetic fluid can be messy.
-
The strongest permanent magnets contain neodymium, a rare earth metal with an atomic number of 60 and symbol Nd.
