In the past we have seen how to make ferrofluids at home, and their use in an unusual market, but today we have something different. We already know that ferrofluids react in a very particular way to magnets, allowing us to visualize the magnetic field under the right conditions. What are those conditions? Besides the ferrofluid and the magnets, we will need a bit of WD-40, two pieces of transparent glass, adhesive tape, a lamp, and a space that can get dirty without problems.
Experiments with ferrofluids are very interesting. The idea of seeing a liquid develop “spines” when we bring a magnet close captures the attention of the little ones, but the truth is there is no age limit. If that isn’t enough, there are different recipes to prepare ferrofluids, some more complex than others, and all with very positive results. However, this time we want to use a ferrofluid as a tool to visualize magnetic fields without radical changes to its surface.
Visualizing Magnetic Fields with Ferrofluids
The good news is that you don’t need a large amount of ferrofluid, and a few milliliters is more than enough. The key is to mix that ferrofluid with WD-40 or another similar substance (fortunately, both original WD-40 and its analogs are not hard to obtain). Then pour the liquid onto a transparent glass, and cover it with another of identical dimensions. We must work to eliminate all bubbles, and once the liquid trapped between the two glasses is uniform, we keep them together with some adhesive tape. Place a light below the glass (LED strips work very well), and the rest is just moving a magnet.
If there is a recommendation to make above all others, it is this: Try to do the experiment in a space that can get dirty, and don’t wear expensive clothes. Ferrofluid stains... a lot. Second, we must always have respect for neodymium magnets. Some specimens can fool us with their size, and their strength has hurt more than one person.
