3D Magnetic Field Viewer

My job takes me to various research labs to install powerful magnetic systems and to train techs how to use them. This time I needed a magnetic field viewer to show lines of force. This instructable will show how to construct such a device using steel wool fibers and mineral oil. I built this while I was staying at my hotel.

Step 1 Get your supplies

I went to Walmart and got the following items and brought them back to my Hotel.

1. Fine steel wool.
2. Bottle of Mineral Oil in plastic bottle.
3.Scissors.

Comments

[Alison.hapka]

Great project, I am a physics teacher and this will make a great project for my students. Ideally I would like to make this in a container that has a hole in the center in which The students could slip a magnet and see the field on all sides around the magnet, instead of just one side. I will have to do some wandering about Walmart and see if I can see a bottle like this.

Thanks for the great project!

[katiem83]

You could cut out holes for pvc pipe and then seal around the edges with silicone. That should easily accomodate a bar magnet.

[botronics]

Thats an interesting idea. I've seen some rubber stoppers at our local brew store that have a 3/8 hole in them. You could slip a small test tube through the hole. Another idea would be to find a test tube just the right size to fit a plastic bottle. Add a couple of o rings to help seal it in place. There are also baby bottles that are open in the middle to act as a "handle". I think its called a gripper baby bottles.

[artesia]

You should be able to buy glass bottles with holes in them at places like Michael's, Hobby Lobby, etc. =]

[CatTrampoline]

Outstanding job! This would have been great for my high school and college physics classes, since neither school had much budget. I'll make one for my son when he takes college physics next year and send the link to his former science teachers.

I am sorry there are some "You did not invent magnetism" TROLLS harassing you over this posting. Please be assured that most people appreciate the information.

[lilshelbybear]

Can you use a glass container or does it need to be plastic?

[botronics]

Glass is fine, but breakable. It will make an awful mess if it breaks.

[ilpug]

We did this in science class but we used iron powder instead and it didn't work too well. I think the shredded steel wool is much better.

[botronics]

You need long fibers so they can twist and align in the field like little compasses. Iron powder may rotate, but you won't notice it.

[Brna]

Nice job! Love it!

[pie R []ed]

I applaud your ingenuity, and kludging ability! Wonderful instructable!

[ANDY!]

Real cool idea. just wondering if you lit the wool and made...rust, would it still be magnetic?

[ssomealea]

Why does it works? could someone tell me , so that i can use this experiments to do in my science fair.

[ssomealea]

Thank you!!

[botronics]

Think of each steel wool fiber as being a compass. Each fiber will point along the lines of force when exposed to a magnetic field. The oil suspends each fiber and allow the steel wool pieces to rotate into position. Eventually, the fibers will clump and stick together as the field pulls them along. There are really no "lines of force" coming out of the magnet. The size of the "lines" depends of the size of the steel wool particles. The magnetic field travels through space and the fibers from the poles of the magnet.

[Logan506]

Its Cool... But I Dont Belive You Made It In A Apartment... Sorry I Think Someone aTold You This And You Want Cred.

[TDWay]

You are correct in that assumption "that He didn't make it in an apartment", go back and re-read it again, it was in his Hotel Room that he made this.

Cool great idea, althou I'm not sure how I can use this knowledge, I will keep it in mind, seeing as I am a weekend prospector it may come in handy some day.

Thanks for sharing. TDWay

[garrettg]

Why do we care if it was in an apartment or not?

[Rotten194]

Why Do You Feel The Need To Talk Without Any Semblance Of aGrammar. And its a relatively simple concept. Put a magnetic material near a magnet and it will line up to its magnetic field, provided there isn't to much friction. How to reduce friction? Suspend the material in water/fluid with low density and low viscosity. Just because you're eight doesn't mean we all are.

[Shentianqi]

hahah nice:)

[acneman]

Whats a grammar?

[Rotten194]

I was being sarcastic about his ability to not put A's in front of random words. -____-

[sapola57]

well if you had taken about half a second to realize that A is right next to the shift button and his next letter was CAPITAL T. he obviously accidentally hit both. so thanks for being a total jackass and making a big scene out of the fact that you don't have a life besides commenting on the grammar on a comment on Instructables. nice.

[merseyless]

troll detected, don't make fun of the grammernazi's.

[rab236]

 Ahem... grammarnazis with an a and without an apostrophe.

[merseyless]

you win

[orksecurity]

More importantly, don't feed trolls by responding to them.

[SpiroExDeus]

... Carefully counts the people who ignored the "be nice" rule.

At least I haven't made any nasty, snide, critical or sarcastic comments...

no... wait...

Oh drat....

[SimonSaid]

Well played sir, well played.

[kelseymh]

Not everyone on this site is a teenager. Some of us have been working for five, ten, twenty, forty years.

[bobiebob]

wrong, the first "internet" was a fact in 1969, called ARPANET created by ARPA. the internet as known today was there already in 1984, but was taken in use by the public in the 90's.

no offence though ;)

[kelseymh]

What exactly is your more than two years late point? I can't figure out how your comment is connected to the preceding discussion.

[mr.space]

i do hope you not stereotyping teenagers, we get enough ageism as it is

[FurtherThanTesla]

Thank you. Im so tired of guys at radioshack kicking me out when im tryin to find a few op-amps because they think im a shoplifter. they never leave me alone in an isle, and if i take to long, they tell me to get out. I dont like being treated like a delinquent just because of my age.

[RockmanAU]

Just ask them to help you find what you are after.

That way they will know what you are up to and may even be inspired to tidy up or restock the electronic components section!

[FurtherThanTesla]

Well, im the kind of person who shops there. i dont know if i need it until i see it ;)

[kelseymh]

Did you read the depressingly stereotypical posting from Logan506 to which I responded? If someone doesn't want to be treated like a stereotype (you, for instance), they shouldn't present themselves as a stereotype (again, as you do not).

[masterochicken]

I honestly don't think Logan506 seems like a teenager though. He seems more like an 8-year-old, or a really really stupid adult.

[botronics]

It was made at the Hampton Inn in Turkey Creek, Tennessee to show Techs at Oakridge National Labs. Why don't you believe i couldn't have make it ? Its easy! Make one and post it.

[fishcatcher]

can i us water on the inside dont have mineral oil or where can i make some from rocks? got 0 monie cause i was bad