Specification:
Magnets are held in place part way along the tube (using the steel
washers provided), with two steel spheres on the 'downhill' side.
The magnets and steel spheres are contained within a clear plastic tube
for safety reasons (neodymium magnets are brittle and can splinter, the
spheres can be accelerated with some force).
Magnetic Accelerator Kit is an example of a magnetic linear accelerator
and uses powerful neodymium magnets to launch a steel sphere at high
speed.
Another sphere is rolled slowly towards the magnets and as it gets
closer the magnetic attraction causes the sphere to accelerate
considerably, resulting in the sphere impacting with the magnets,
transferring energy to the sphere at the opposite end of the magnets
causing it to shoot off at high speed (similar to how Newton's cradle
works).
Even faster speeds can be achieved by using a series of magnets and spheres.
Kit includes 6 magnets and 5 steel spheres, washers and clear
plastic tube with rubber end stopper to stop sphere. Instructions for
use included.
