Demo: Magnetic Accelerator

Equipment:

• Magnetic accelerator with 21 steel balls

• plastic putty knife

Location:

• On wall next to section 6

Notes:

• Transportable, working

• Very exciting for students

• The putty knife can be used to separate the ball bearings to set up for a new run.

Description:

• With this device (also called a Gauss rifle) you can show that you can convert magnetic potential energy into kinetic energy by using a series of magnets and a ball bearings.

• Arrange the ball bearings with two on one side of each of the magnets as shown in the picture. Slowly roll the the extra ball bearing from the end towards the magnet. It will be accelerated by the magnetic field and collide with the magnet, transferring its energy via the collision to the next ball bearing. Each time the ball bearing will move faster as it has an initial speed that increases and the last one will be the fastest, which is free to fly off.

• Talk about acceleration due to the field and review collisons.

Updated February 2023