Not your usual experiment, this is a book: “The League of Scientists” is a young adult fiction book by Andy Kaiser (the creator of Digital Bits Science Lab).

Equipment needed:

The League of Scientists is available here: http://www.LeagueOfScientists.com

The Digital Bits Science Lab Experiment:

The League of Scientists is a group of smart kids who love science. They use their knowledge and critical thinking skills to solve seemingly-supernatural mysteries.

One of the components of the book is the mystery aspect, and not just the “main” mystery. In most chapters, there is a puzzle. The solution to the puzzle involves the application of science or critical thinking. The book is intended to give science education (and scientific applications – something you don’t always get from such fiction) while still giving kids a good story and characters.

Equipment needed:

A bar magnet

Tape

String or thread

The Digital Bits Science Lab Experiment:

We need to identify one side of the magnet – put a piece of tape on one side. Tie the string around the bar magnet so the string is as close to the center as you can get.  When you hang the magnet from the string, it should be pretty well balanced. Hang the magnet so it dangles in the air. Here’s what we’re trying to accomplish:

Next, flick the magnet so it spins. Watch it spin. After a while, it will stop spinning, and one side of the magnet will be pointing north. It does so because that end of the magnet is attracted to the Earth’s north pole. You can double-check by spinning the magnet, or even moving it out of position and then letting it go – the suspended magnet will spin and twist and point back towards north.

The Earth’s north pole is not an actual giant magnet. The north pole is created by effects from the Earth’s constant rotation and its molten iron core. But the effect is similar – it creates a magnetic field so strong, it affects the magnet we’re experimenting with here.

You can experiment to get an idea of size and strength of the Earth’s magnetic field: Take a piece of iron or steel, or any metal you can find that will attract to your magnet. Bring it underneath your suspended bar magnet. When you get close enough, the magnet will bend down and reach for your piece of metal:

Now move your piece of metal away. The bar magnet will turn back into a compass again: it will relax and reorient to point towards the Earth’s north pole. The Earth’s magnetic poles are so strong, and the magnetic fields so large, they affect magnets like your compass from anywhere on Earth!