It seems like there is no end to what you can do with magnets! Here’s a simple DIY for making a magnetic field sensory bottle. This little guy is a cool desk accessory for the office as well as great way to demonstrate the powers of magnetism. Here’s what you’ll need:
  • Travel sized bottle of listerine (you can use whatever bottle you’d like, but mouthwash works the best because of the locking lid).
  • Small bottle of Ferrofluid
  • Water
  • ½” neodymium magnets (x4)
  • Extra-wide Plastic straw
  • Duct tape
Making The Bottle: Step 1. Empty out the mouthwash bottle and make sure to thoroughly rinse it out (you can store the mouthwash in another container). Step 2. Remove any labels. This’ll make sure you can see the experiment. Step 3. Add your ferrofluid. A teaspoon should be plenty. Make sure you do this carefully--the ferrofluid can stain. Step 4. Add water until the bottle is full, being careful not to overflow. Step 5. Seal the bottle. Again, mouthwash bottles are great because the lid locks. For extra security, you can always superglue it. Making The Wand: Step 1. Cut a slit in one end of the straw as long as your stack of neodymium magnets. Step 2. Insert your magnets in the slit. Step 3. Wrap the magnets and straw with duct tape, making sure to cover the end. You’re all set! Wave the wand around the bottle and watch the as the ferrofluid seems to magically separate from the water! Here’s a video of the final product. You can find magnets for all of your DIY projects right here at Apex! Image by Nickynada