Hooked on Science: Mystery pipe

Different types of pipes have different effects on magnets.

Materials

* 1/2 inch-by-2 foot copper pipe

* 1/2 inch-by-2-foot PVC pipe

* Circular neodymium magnet

Instructions

STEP 1: Hold the PVC pipe vertically, drop the circular neodymium magnet down the pipe and observe.

STEP 2: Hold the copper pipe vertically, drop the circular Neodymium magnet down the pipe and observe.

Explanation

A current is created as the magnet falls through the copper pipe. The current creates a magnetic field, which opposes the field of the falling magnet. Therefore, the magnet falls through the copper pipe slowly.

Jason Lindsey is a science outreach educator with Hooked on Science. Check out his website hookedonscience.org for webcasts and experiments.