Magnetic Accelerator Set

Product Description

This could be the science demo of the decade!  
Simple, but effective! 

A plastic rail supports the two neodymium magnets, each attracting three steel balls. Now, push the loose ball slowly towards the first group. As it approaches the magnet, it accelerates towards the magnet and amazingly shoots off the steel ball at the other end at a high velocity!  This ball once again activates the second group and the last ball flies off at a fantastic speed.  Be warned – this is known as a Gaussian rail gun!

Watch as students try to figure out this demo and then try other combinations . . .  three balls and a magnet, four balls and two magnets . . . 

Did someone state that energy is conserved in a magnetic field?
And how does this relate to Newton's Cradle in a gravitational field?
See the file below for answers and kit instructions.

Included: Steel balls (7), neodymium magnets (2), rail track (1), Prof Bunsen’s notes & classroom extention ideas
Teach: Scientific inquiry, conservation of momentum / energy, magnetic fields, linear acceleration
Age: 9+

Additional magnets & steel balls are available.