Magnetic Jewelry Clasp

Ferro fluid is a liquid mixture that is strongly attracted to magnets. This is due to its composition, which is made of magnetite particles suspended in a liquid base. This is a popular science class tool for teachers when helping students learn about magnets and their properties since it does not come in the normal solid form most magnets come in. One can do other interesting stuff with Ferro fluid that cannot be done with regular magnets.

Electronics
Ferro fluid is commonly used in electronics and in NASA. The substance is used as a protective coating for computer hard drives, while NASA is developing technologies that use the fluid in altitude control systems. In this technology, a magnetic field is used to influence the direction of the fluid. The substance is also used in magnetic resonance imaging in hospitals to detect structural and soft tissue abnormalities in the body.

Class Teaching Aids
This is perhaps the most popular use for Ferro fluid. The liquid is very easy to make for classroom use, since the teacher only needs to mix the magnetite particles with organic oil to produce the magnetic liquid. A popular mix for classroom use is composed of 5% magnetic solids, 10% surfactant to prevent the magnets from sticking or clumping together, and 85% carrier, which is usually kerosene. A commonly-used surfactant is oleic acid. Students can place the fluid on Petri dishes and watch the movement of the fluid as they move small pieces of magnets underneath the dish.

Interesting Liquid Sculptures
The interaction between Ferro fluid and magnets can create the most interesting shapes that can pass as art. For example, one can create numerous spikes of shiny black fluid when one places a magnet under a piece of glass with a small pool of Ferro fluid on it. One can create various sizes of spikes depending on the strength of the magnet. For example, the bigger neodymium magnets tend to produce the smallest spikes so one can use large and small magnets to create spikes of various sizes. Very weak magnetic fields produce varied sizes of lobes on the surface that are very interesting to look at. Placing three weak magnets in a row can produces three lobes on the glass plate that looks good enough to serve as a modern table centerpiece or the focal point in an office, very much like the moving Ferro fluid installations of Japanese artist Sachiko Kodama.

Ferro fluid is an interesting substance that is used for both practical and fun purposes. Aside from electronics and art, the substance is also a fun classroom tool that helps grade school children learn about magnets. In addition, with the flexibility of this substance, more practical applications for it are bound to be discovered in the future.

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