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Floating Magnets

PROFESSOR A. M. MAYER was the first to call attention to the remarkable and entertaining experiments which can be performed by means of floating magnets. These experiments are so easy and simple in their nature that no one will find any difficulty in arranging the necessary apparatus for repeating them. Several needles of the size known as number 6, or thereabouts, are magnetised, so that their points are of the same polarity. They are then each stuck through a little disc of cork--so that the eye of each needle barely projects above the surface of the disc. This cork supports the needle upright in water. Different numbers of needles so treated are placed in a basin of water, when they immediately take up geometrical positions. A bar magnet held above them will draw them towards the centre of the basin in such a manner that the figure is contracted, to be again dilated to its original size as the magnet is withdrawn. A few of the figures obtained in this curious manner by magnetised needles are shown above.