This lab is a physical model of what happens on Mercury when two magnetic fields collide and form magnetic tornadoes.
You’ll get to investigate what an invisible magnetic tornado looks like when it sweeps across Mercury.
Materials
- Two clear plastic bottles (2 liter soda bottles work best)
- Steel washer with a 3/8 inch hole
- Ruler and stopwatch
- Glitter or confetti (optional)
- Duct tape (optional)
The worksheet has a data table and one of the columns gives you a spot to record how long it takes for the water to drain. You can use the stop watch for that step.
what is the stop watch for
No, use what you have. Watch the experiment so you get the hang of what we’re working on, and then invent and create something that works the same way!
Do you have to have that kind of washer