Time to kick it into high gear!


Gather the material!

Material
Quantity
Dimension/ size/weight (if applicable)
Alternative (if applicable)
Powerful Magnets
E.g: door/cabinet magnets, magnets extracted from toy/motors, etc
2
Any size
-
Piece of white chart paper
1
17” x 12”
A4 paper x 2
Newspaper
1
Standard size
-
Cardboard piece
1
5” x 5”
Piece of a milk carton or any other product
Clamping clip
4
15mm-32mm
-
Cotton thread
1
-
-
Small cut pieces of steel wool - cut it out of scotch Brite dishwasher (steel spiral) - use a scissor to cut the steel spiral
1
Several tiny pieces (refer to the image below)
Scotch Brite steel spiral
Strong magnets
2
Button magnet/U magnet

Optional: Single Hole Puncher


How to get metal shards?

  • Cut small pieces of steel wool and pile it up.
  • You can also use scotchbrite - stainless steel spiral.
Metal shards.

Let's get started!

All set!
  • First, we need to mark the location(s) where our device detects the magnetic field so that it can be saved into our database.
  • We use a coordinate system for this purpose. That makes it easier and systematic.

The coordinate system for easier navigation.

STEP 1: Take the chart paper and draw a grid of lines horizontal and vertical.


Doesn't matter how many lines you draw. Just make sure they are equidistant.



Practice!

  • Label the rows with numbers starting from 'X'.
  • Label the columns starting from the alphabet 'A'. (The first column is set to 'X' by default).

Now put a magnet on any box on the chart paper and try to name it.


Block name = Alphabet + Number.


STEP 2:

  • At two different points on the second paper, stick two magnets. Make sure they don't move.  
  • Cover it up with the chart paper and clamp paper clips on each side so that it doesn't move.

Place the two magnets, randomly.

Making the Detector

STEP 3: Think of a holder that enables you to see any changes in the items it holds.

Hint: You would need these materials for making the detector.

Cut a piece of thread of length 10 inches, and stick it at the back of the cardboard.



Step 4: Join the free ends of the threads together.

Make sure your model is nicely balanced.

Step 5: Put some metal shards/steel wire pieces at the top of the detector.


Step 6:
 Put the grid paper on the top of the blank paper (with magnets) and clip them from the two sides.




Let's give it a try!

See how the magnetic-detector works. 
Hint: Go slow.

Did you get the spot?

How would you make a bigger magnet-detector to detect the magnetic field in a room?

Make a list of what items would you need and start building it.

Last modified: Tuesday, 30 March 2021, 12:04 PM