Ancient Aeolipile -steam engine, and magnets for good measure...

Step 2 Suspend your Can; making a bearing.

Well, to make this work well, you need some sort of bearing (to allow continuous motion). To do this, I epoxied a length of fishing line to one of my little magnets. I then attached this magnet to a steel ball and tied the other end to the upwards-bent soda can tab.

Using my magnetic toy choking hazards, I constructed a little string hanging from the vent above my stove. At the bottom of this string, I placed a ball.

I then attached the two balls together -- this creates a bearing of sorts

Comments

[pamandjim]

The magnet bearing is almost friction-free! I don't have those parts so I'm going to try using fishing swivels or a beaded chain for my first attempt.

[oskay]

Those little magnet toys with their steel balls really do make *great* rotation bearings!