Why Doesn't Gold Work for Jumping Rings?

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SUMMARY

The forum discussion centers on the phenomenon of jumping rings, specifically why gold does not exhibit the same behavior as other metals like aluminum, silver, iron, and steel. Participants explore various factors, including the purity of the gold (18ct), potential differences in size and construction of the rings, and the implications of density and magnetic permeability. The conversation highlights the curiosity surrounding the physical properties of gold in relation to electromagnetic experiments.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of electromagnetic principles and their application in experiments.
  • Familiarity with the concept of jumping rings and their demonstration.
  • Knowledge of material properties, including density and magnetic permeability.
  • Basic chemistry knowledge regarding metal purity and alloy composition.
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the electromagnetic properties of different metals, focusing on gold and aluminum.
  • Explore the concept of magnetic permeability and its effects on metal behavior in electromagnetic fields.
  • Investigate the physical properties of 18ct gold compared to pure gold and other metals.
  • Learn about the practical applications of jumping rings in educational demonstrations and physics experiments.
USEFUL FOR

Physics enthusiasts, educators conducting demonstrations, and anyone interested in the properties of metals in electromagnetic experiments.

mike
Guys & Gals

Everyone has seen the jumping rings demonstration….

Aluminium works fine, so does silver, iron and steel just stick to the coil

Cut slots or drill holes in the disks and you get what you would expect

BUT…

Why doesn’t gold work?

Cheers

Mike
 
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Sorry, I have no clue what you are talking about but it sounds interesting so if you want to add some detail I will gladly learn more about it

Dario
 
Now I know what a jumping ring is but I am still clueless about what could make gold and silver behave differently in such an experiment. Is it a well known fact or something you have tried personally?
Because the first thing I would think about is "was your gold real gold?"...

;) Dario
 
18ct gold wedding ring, not quite pure but very close

mike
 
Originally posted by mike
18ct gold wedding ring, not quite pure but very close

mike

have to say its curious gold wouldnt

1. do you know the answer?
2. did you actually try it?

the way I interpret your post you actually did try it
and are puzzled like us

were the other rings you tried substantially bigger
or smaller than the gold finger-ring?

has the gold ring been cut and soldered closed?
sometimes rings passed down in the family
have had the size adjusted by removing a small
section

dont see how either should make any difference but
would like to know. sounds quite bizarre that gold would not jump
 
I wonder if the density matters.

gold is heavier than aluminum
 
Maybe it has something to do with gold's magnetic permeability or electric permetivity...
 

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