Magnet Tricks

Here are some ideas for magnet tricks.

• The Magic Touch Place a small refrigerator magnet inside the index finger of a thin cloth glove. Put the glove on and see how many paper clips you can pick up by touching them with the finger of the glove that has the hidden magnet in it, as shown. If you have more magnets, use them in other fingers of the glove.
  
• Water Bugs Make a water bug by sticking a paper clip into a foam packing peanut, as shown. Float the "bug" in a dish filled with water. Hold a magnet under the dish and use it to make your bug swim on the water. You and a friend might have a water bug race!
  
• A Ball That Rolls Uphill Bend a thin piece of cardboard to make a V-shaped valley. Raise one end of the cardboard and place a steel ball bearing near the bottom of the V, as shown. Have a friend hold a magnet behind the cardboard to keep the ball in place. Hold another magnet behind the opposite side of the cardboard, as shown. Have your friend release the ball by taking away the magnet that holds it while you use your magnet to make the ball roll up the cardboard hill.