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How to Levitate a Magnet on Two Poles

Magnets come from a naturally occurring substance called magnetite. A bar magnet set on a table will spin so that one side faces the North Pole and the other faces the South Pole. This is because the planet's poles have a naturally occuring magnetism of their own. The ends of the magnet are named for the pole to which they point: North Pole and South Pole. Like sides of magnets (such as north to north) will repel, and opposing sides will attract.

Things You'll Need

1 pencil
1 thread spool
1 bar magnet, north and south labeled
2 ring magnets

Instructions

- 1
  Place a pencil into the hole of a thread spool so that the pencil will stand up stable without being held with your hand.
- 2
  Hold one side of a ring magnet against the north side of the bar magnet. Watch for whether the magnets stick together or push away as the latter means that the ring side is also north. Place the ring magnet, north side up, over the pencil so that it falls down to the top of the thread spool.
- 3
  Test the other ring magnet on the bar magnet's north end, watching for the magnet to attract or repeal. Place the ring magnet over the pencil, north side facing down, so that it falls towards the first magnet. Watch for the first ring to repel the second ring, causing it to levitate.

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