DIY Diamagnetism Experiment
Diamagnetism is a magnetic property first discovered in 1778 by Dutch scientist Sebald Justinus Brugmans. He discovered the property while using bismuth and antimony and realized they were repelled by magnetic fields. It wasn’t until 1845 that English scientist Michael Faraday named the property diamagnetism while studying elements and compounds that exhibited negative magnetism, meaning they were pushing away from the magnet. In layman's terms, diamagnetism is a property that every element possesses, which causes a weak repulsion from a magnetic field. In contrast, some elements also possess ferromagnetism and paramagnetism, which causes them to be strongly attracted or repulsed by the magnetic field.
To show diamagnetism, you can use a DIY magnet experiment with a common everyday food, grapes, to show small repulsion when exposed to a strong rare earth magnet. This experiment will only work with neodymium magnets because of the strong magnetic field they produce.
Supplies
- Soda straw
- Two large grapes
- Tape
- Two foot long string
- Stand to hold the string
- 4x4x4 Neodymium rare earth magnet
Directions
- Tie one end of the string to the middle of the straw.
- Attach the other end of the string to your fixture or the edge of a desk with the tape. Be sure that the stand allows the string to spin the straw circularly.
- Push each grape onto the ends of the straw. You may need to push one grape further into the straw depending on the weight. You want the straw to stay level when not in motion.
- Bring the magnet close to the grape without touching. Watch as the magnet pushes it slowly away. Now turn the magnet so that the opposite polarity faces the grape. Does the grape still push away from the magnet?