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General Physics Science Fair Project

3D Magnetic Field Viewing Bottle

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3D Magnetic Field Viewing Bottle | Science Fair Projects | STEM Projects
What does a magnetic field look like in three dimensions? Iron filings line up along magnetic field lines. Suspended in liquid, they reveal the full 3D shape of the field around a magnet. You fill a bottle of baby oil with tiny steel fibers cut from extra-fine steel wool. Snip narrow strips across the wool, about 1/16 inch wide. Drop a heaping teaspoon of fibers into the oil and seal the cap. Hold a magnet against the outside of the bottle and shake gently. The steel fibers swing into alignment and trace the curved field lines through the oil. Move the magnet around the bottle to see the pattern shift in real time.

Hypothesis

The hypothesis is that the steel fibers will align themselves in the magnetic field and make it visible.

Method & Materials

You will need to remove the label from the bottle, make steel fibers, mix the fibers into the oil, and hold a magnet near one side of the bottle to watch the fibers align themselves.
You will need a magnet, extra-fine steel wool, a plastic bottle full of baby oil with a paper label, scissors, and optional rubbing alcohol and white spray-paint.

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Results

By making a 3D magnetic field viewing bottle, you can observe the patterns of magnetic fields. The fibers will align themselves in the magnetic field and make it visible.

Why do this project?

This science project is interesting and unique because it allows you to explore the patterns of magnetic fields in a 3D way.

Also Consider

Experiment variations to consider include using different types of magnets and different types of steel wool.

Full project details

Additional information and source material for this project are available below.

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