Looking for some cool magnets / gadgets

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the search for interesting desk accessories, particularly those involving magnets or kinetic motion, such as swinging pendulums and floating objects. Participants share ideas and suggestions for gadgets that can serve as engaging desk toys or decorative items.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses interest in desk accessories like swinging pendulums and magnetic gadgets, specifically mentioning a device that allows a penny to float and spin between magnets.
  • Another participant identifies the described device as Newton's cradle and shares links to videos of similar gadgets, including a gyroscope.
  • A participant suggests a YBCO plate with a magnetic track and liquid nitrogen as a potential desk accessory.
  • One participant mentions finding various cool items, including a levitating globe, hurricane balls, and Euler's disc, while also proposing a vibrating magnetic device that could make objects dance.
  • A participant shares their decision to purchase a gyroscope and expresses interest in a mini hadron collider concept involving magnetic acceleration of a metal ball bearing.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the appeal of various magnetic and kinetic desk accessories, but there is no consensus on specific recommendations or the feasibility of proposed devices like the mini hadron collider.

Contextual Notes

Some ideas presented are speculative and depend on further exploration of the concepts, such as the mini hadron collider, which lacks detailed technical discussion.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in physics, engineering, or unique desk gadgets may find the discussion and suggestions valuable.

uperkurk
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Hello all :) I'm look for some cool things to look at or buy, I'm after mainly desk accessories such as swinging pendulums or something magnetic. I have seen some videos a while ago about a kind of magnet gadget which you could place a copper penny inside and it will just float in between the two magnets. Kinda like this:--
O
--

Sorry that's the best I could do :P and then you could spin the penny and it would spin for ages and ages on it's only little axis. I forgot what it was I searched for when I found this but can anyone tell me of some cool desk type things like swinging pendulums or something?
 
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Last edited by a moderator:
genericusrnme said:
Look no farther!
http://www.youtube.com/rOOYt5FVS24

That link didn't work for me.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
lisab said:
That link didn't work for me.

Fix'd, I forgot the watch?v= part
 
Last edited by a moderator:
uperkurk said:
Oh it's called Newtons cradle :) I came across these things too which are simply awesome!

= similar to the device I was describing


Oh boy, I used to have a pen that you could do that with!
It was pretty badass
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I found loads of cool things including levetating globe which is amazing btw! and I found things like hurricane balls, euler's disc and some other neat things :)

What would be cool is if I can find a little device that has a magnetic on it which is stuck to a little wooden base, the base vibrates using electric from your socket and you can attach things obove the vibrating magnetic which would make the object dance around kind of thing
 
Check out thinkgeek.
 
  • #10
I ended up buying the gyroscope just because it looks cool to play with, was going to buy the magnetic floating globe but was too expensive.

a mini hadron collider would also be amazing! A circular disc that has some power magnetics in it that are angled slightly forwards... put a metal ball baring inside and as it passes past each magnet it picks up a bit more speed, constantly building up speed until you press a button which somehow stops the ball.

Sounds awesome I wish I could make one but I wouldn't really know how..
 

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