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Iron Filings for Magnetic Field Experiments
Iron filings show the shape of a magnet's field when sprinkled on paper above it. They are simply fine shavings of iron or mild steel: file a bar over paper, sieve out the coarse bits, and keep them dry, because fine iron rusts quickly.
Beginner
1 hour
Instructions
1
1
File the bar
File the bar
Clamp a mild steel bar in the vise and file it with a coarse file, catching the filings on paper.
Materials for this step:
Mild Steel Bar0.2 meter
Paper2 sheetsTools needed:
Bench Vise
File Set
Safety Glasses2
2
Sieve
Sieve
Shake the filings through a fine sieve; keep the fine part.
Tools needed:
Fine Mesh Sieve3
3
Clean with a magnet
Clean with a magnet
Wrap a magnet in paper, lift the filings out of any dust or wood bits with it, then pull the paper off the magnet to drop them in a jar.
Tools needed:
Magnet
Glass Jars with Lids4
4
Try them
Try them
Lay paper over a magnet and sprinkle the filings thinly; tap the paper and watch the field lines form.
Tools needed:
MagnetTools Required
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