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Electricity and Magnetism

At Black Sand, see the shape of an invisible magnetic field.

A magnetized mass of steel washers offers endless sculptural and experimental diversion.

Exhibit developer Richard Gagnon explains how the exhibit came to be and how it's taken care of.

A magnet's force gathers and disperses a magnetic fluid in dynamic patterns.

Magnets transfer energy back and forth, making the pendulum swing in unpredictable ways.

"Clouds" of iron particles dart and dance in a magnetic field.

Power these appliances with your feet!

Try building these circuits found in everyday objects.

Electricity moving in a wire makes a circular magnetic field.

This exhibit demonstrates the principles by which a motor functions.

Change the measured weight of an object—without touching it.

For magnets, strength isn’t necessarily in numbers.

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