More Interesting Science

[astroron]

Boat with holes in doesn't sink;)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7942912.stm

[marki]

It very interesting chemistry isn't it:). This type of technique is not only restricted to copper. I do a prac with my final year chem students which involves wrapping iron ion's up in oleic acid. The ions are then miscible in non-polar solvents and can easily be dissolved into kero. This stuff is called ferro fluid and does wonderful things when in the presence of a magnetic field. The kids love the stuff :D.

Ciao Mark

[ngcles]

Hi Ron & All,



Will we be able to apply this technology to the Aussie Dollar? :P


Holland might be interested in it too -- they could get rid of the windmills.;)


Best,

Les D

[MrB]

Ferro fluid is pretty cool, was used in top-end audio tweeters for a while.
Saw a video years ago of someone playing with it in magnetic fields, sure there would be something on youtube.

[marki]

There are a few vids up there. You can buy the stuff but it costs about $1 per mL. It's dead easy to make and last time we did it we made about 2L of the stuff. Didn't cost anywhere near 2k in materials :).

Mark

[Baddad]

Sounds like interesting stuff. I'd like to see it Marko. :thumbsup:

When I was a pre-teenager a pharmacy student showed me how to float a steel sewing needle on water. Its done by maintaining the surface tension of the water intact.:D

On observing the floating needle there is a depression on the water surface where the needle floats.

[Blue Fire]

And if you magnetize it first, it becomes a crude compass. If you happen to be in the wilderness without a magnet, here's how to do it the hard way:
http://www.survivaltopics.com/survival/make-a-floating-needle-compass/

[marki]

Some of these are good.

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_type=&search_query=ferrofluid+demonstrati on&aq=3&oq=ferrofluid

Mark