Robert Krampf's Experiment of the Week:
#496 Which is the Magnet?
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This week's experiment is a fun science puzzle involving magnets. To try it, you will need:

a strong magnet (available at most hardware stores)
three paper clips

Straighten two of the paper clips, so that you have two long, fairly straight pieces of wire. Get both as straight as you can. Place one aside. Hold the other, and rub one end of the magnet along the paper clip, starting at your finger, and moving to the other end. Move the magnet away from the metal and repeat the process. Keep stroking the magnet along the paper clip, always in the same direction, for about 40 strokes. By doing this, we are magnetizing the paper clip.

Test the magnetized paper clip by bringing one end of it near the extra paper clip, the one that you did not straighten. If your paper clip is magnetized enough, it should attract the other clip. If not, try again with the procedure above.

Once you have the paper clip magnetized, you are ready for the challenge. Put both of the straightened paper clips together. Mix them until you are not sure which is which. The challenge is to figure out which one is the magnet and which is not, but you cannot use ANYTHING else to test with. No fair using the third paper clip, iron filings, a compass, or anything else. You are also not allowed to break the paper clips. The two straightened clips are all you need to figure it out.

So, how do you find out which is which? If I told you, you would just say, "Oh that makes sense." instead of really trying it. If you are really patient, you could wait until next week for the answer, but I bet you have enough scientific curiosity to actually get the materials and try it yourself.

Have a wonder-filled week!