Cool Science Experiments Headquarters

Make Memories One Cool Science Experiment at a Time!

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • Pinterest
  • Email
  • Home
  • About
  • Experiments
  • Contact Us
  • FREE Newsletter

Science Experiments

How Liquid Impacts a Magnet

What do you think, will the type of liquid in a glass change the way a magnet’s force works? We use three different liquids to test our theory.

Using simple supplies found at home, kids can learn about viscosity and resistance through this simple hands-on experiment. Preview our demonstration video using water, vegetable oil and corn syrup, but our printable instructions and simple scientific explanation include alternate liquids you can use to test the concept.

How Liquid Impact Magnets Experiment

 

How Liquid Impacts a Magnet Video

Supplies Needed

  • 3 Glasses
  • Magnet
  • 12 Paper Clips
  • 1/2 Cup Water
  • 1/2 Cup Vegetable Oil
  • 1/2 Cup Light Corn Syrup

Experiment Instructions

How Liquid Impact a Magnet Experiment - Step 1

Step 1 – Place three cups in a row.

How Liquid Impact a Magnet Experiment - Step 2

Step 2 – Fill the first glass with the water.

How Liquid Impact a Magnet - Step 3

Step 3 – Fill the middle glass with the vegetable oil.

How Liquid Impact a Magnet Experiment - Step 3

Step 4 – Fill the third glass with the corn syrup.How Liquid Impact a Magnet - Step 5

Step 5 – Next, place 4 paper clips in each glass.

How Liquid Impact a Magnet - Step 6

Step 6 – You may need to gently push the paper clips to the bottom of the glass with the corn syrup.

How Liquid Impact a Magnet - Step 7

Step 7 – Test your magnet by showing how paper clips outside of the liquid are attracted to it.

How Liquid Impact a Magnet - Step 8

Step 8 – Next, take your magnet and place it next to each glass. Notice that all the paper clips are attracted to the magnet, but that the liquid in the glass causes the paper clips to move differently.

How Does the Experiment Work?

The question answered in this experiment is how does the consistency of a liquid impact magnetic attraction.

A unique property of liquids is something called viscosity. Viscosity is a liquid’s resistance to flowing. Viscosity depends on the size and shape of the particles that make the liquid, as well as the attraction between the particles. Liquids that have a LOW viscosity flow quickly (ie. water, rubbing alcohol, and vegetable oil). Liquids that have a HIGH viscosity flow slowly (ie. honey, corn syrup, and molasses).

When using water and vegetable oil, the paper clips moved through the liquid to the magnet very quickly. This is because water and vegetable oil have a low viscosity and provide very little resistance to the paperclips moving through them. When using corn syrup, the paper clips moved very slowly toward the magnet. This is because the corn syrup has a high viscosity and provides a lot of resistance to the paper clips moving through it.

The magnet still attracts the paperclips in each of the scenarios, but the experiment shows how the viscosity of a liquid impacts how fast (or slow) the paperclips move toward the magnet.

I hope you enjoyed the experiment. Here are some printable instructions;

How Liquid Impact a Magnet - Step 7

How Liquid Impacts Magnets Science Experiment

Materials

  • 3 Glasses
  • Magnet
  • 12 Paper Clips
  • 1/2 Cup Water
  • 1/2 Cup Vegetable Oil
  • 1/2 Cup Light Corn Syrup

Instructions

  1. Place three cups in a row
  2. Fill the first glass with the water
  3. Fill the middle glass with the vegetable oil
  4. Fill the third glass with the corn syrup
  5. Next, place 4 paper clips in each glass
  6. You may need to gently push the paper clips to the bottom of the glass with the corn syrup
  7. Test your magnet by showing how paper clips outside of the liquid are attracted to it.
  8. Next, take your magnet and place it next to each glass. Notice that all the paper clips are attracted to the magnet, but that the liquid in the glass causes the paper clips to move differently
© Cool Science Experiments HQ
How Liquid Impacts a Magnet Experiment - Steps


17 Comments

Previous Post: « How to Make Your Hair Stand on End
Next Post: How Colors are Made Science Experiment »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sara says

    March 30, 2016 at 9:12 am

    Will this work if plastic cups are used?

    Reply
    • Danielle says

      April 5, 2016 at 1:09 pm

      I believe it will, but I’ve never tried it. If you do, leave a comment and let us know if it works.

      Thanks!

      Danielle

      Reply
    • Ayan says

      April 30, 2017 at 12:54 pm

      I don’t think they will work

      Reply
      • Allyson says

        January 8, 2018 at 7:58 am

        It will definitely work! Most cups will work because the walls of the cups are thin. Additionally, metal cups and water bottles will probably not work because the molecule are packed more tightly. These materials can also contain iron particles which will make them magnetic and therefore will interfere with your experiment.

        Reply
    • Wally says

      February 20, 2018 at 6:42 pm

      It works, we used a plastic water bottle and it was a success!

      Reply
  2. shaunicepearson says

    November 8, 2016 at 6:47 pm

    this is my science fair project i’m going to do

    Reply
  3. Sandra says

    December 8, 2016 at 12:05 pm

    Is this good for a science project for eighth graders or is it to easy?

    Reply
  4. Daniella says

    December 9, 2016 at 2:37 pm

    Hi, just a small comment. Is not the magnetic force that is affected is that in the case of syrup the friction force is bigger so the total force acting on the paper clip is smaller, then the acceleration will be smaller. F=m.a

    Reply
  5. John says

    January 1, 2017 at 4:21 pm

    Nice experiment to show relationship between Center of Gravity and Balance Points. At the start point the Center of gravity is only a little higher than the point it’s touching the board. If it moves to the wider(higher) end, the Center of gravity lowers because the boards get wider and the contact point on the funnels gets further out, so the Center of gravity is actually getting lower as the funnel appears to be going UP HILL. It is in fact going down toward the direction of gravity.

    Reply
  6. GINA AVELYN says

    January 25, 2017 at 11:27 am

    I ENJOYED THIS EXPERIMENT AND PERFOMED THE SAME IN MY SEMINAR.I AND MY FRIENDS WAS HAVING A GOOD INTERACTIONS.SO GOOD.

    Reply
  7. Mary says

    April 2, 2017 at 6:47 pm

    looks fun

    Reply
  8. Jason Lee says

    April 27, 2017 at 12:35 pm

    HI thanks for the video it was cool to know how liquid impacts a magnet.

    Reply
  9. Matilda Johnson says

    September 4, 2017 at 1:58 pm

    Awesome:)

    Reply
  10. Christina @There's Just One Mommy says

    September 8, 2017 at 12:05 am

    This fits perfectly in our magnet lessons for homeschool tomorrow.
    Thank you! The kids are going to love it. I’m thinking we may even expand on it a bit — they love to experiment.

    Reply
  11. Patty says

    January 2, 2018 at 12:29 pm

    How strong are your magnets?

    Reply
  12. Christine H. says

    March 14, 2018 at 4:04 am

    Hello,

    that’s a pretty cool experiment, especially for kids! Thanks for the great idea, i will test it soon with my kids.

    Regards
    Christine

    Reply
  13. Jackie says

    September 3, 2018 at 9:59 pm

    Thank you for sharing! Can’t wait to try it with my class this week.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Recent Experiments

Rule Change Size Experiment

Ruler Changes Size

Pouring Water Science Experiment - 500x333

Why Does the Water Pour Down the String?

Water Doesnt Leak Out of the Holes

Why Doesn’t the Water Leak?

Stay updated!

Get weekly science experiments delivered to your inbox!

Science experiments delivered to your inbox each week!

Safety is a priority with every science experiment. Before conducting any of the experiments found on CoolScienceExperimentsHQ.com you must get an adult's permission and help, follow the instructions provided as written and wear the appropriate safety gear (protective eyewear, clothing, etc). Have fun and stay safe!
  • Home
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclosure Policy

Copyright © 2021 · Find Time for Fun LLC